On Saturday 11th April we held a netball tournament in memory of our friend Clarissa Nicholls, who died May 2023 after a sudden cardiac arrest whilst hiking in France.
Clarissa was extremely sporty and loved being part of a team, always bringing energy, determination and encouragement to everything she did. With this in mind, we decided to organise a netball tournament in her memory to raise money for CRY.
The event was hosted at Broomwood Prep, where a few of us went to school with Clarissa, which made the day feel even more special and full of memories. The sun came out for the afternoon, and we were so pleased to have around 80 people there supporting and taking part. Six teams competed in a round robin tournament, followed by semi-finals and a final. The matches were fast-paced and full of energy, with everyone getting really stuck in. It quickly became a competitive tournament, but most importantly it was filled with laughter, encouragement and great team spirit. Congratulations to Ella’s team, who were our overall winners on the day.
We were very lucky to have Kaitlin Lawrence umpiring. She is a former Super League player for Surrey Storm who was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and had to stop playing. Since then, she has helped drive change by making cardiac screening compulsory in the Netball Super League, an incredibly inspiring story, and we are so grateful to have had her involved.
It was so special to see so many of Clarissa’s friends coming together, celebrating her love of sport and keeping her memory alive in such a positive way. The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was incredibly uplifting, with lots of support from the sidelines and a real sense of togetherness.
We also had CRY posters, leaflets and T-shirts displayed, helping to raise awareness, and we were grateful for the support and donations received throughout the day. Alongside the tournament, we held a bake sale which was a big success, with lots of homemade cakes and treats kindly contributed and enjoyed by everyone.
We are so pleased to have raised a total of £1,012. We are delighted that this money will go towards CRY to help prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, as well as supporting affected families.
It was a fantastic event and a really meaningful way to remember Clarissa and we hope to make this an annual event. Thank you very much to CRY for all of your support.