Solway Stars Jnr - journey to Worlds, Switzerland!
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Message from Abbie Milligan, Solway Stars Jnr, Team Captain 2023/24
Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Abbie Milligan and I write to you as the current captain of Solway Stars synchronised Ice skating team in the hope that as a business within Dumfries & Galloway you would consider sponsorship to support our team. We are proud and honoured that our achievements this season have resulted in our selection for the second year running by British Ice Skating to represent Great Britain in the Junior World Championships. This year they are being held in Neuchatel, Switzerland on the 14-16th March.
We are the reigning Junior ISU British Champions having successfully retained this title now for three years in a row and we still feel like it’s a ‘pinch me moment’ to share that we were the first ever Scottish team to have attended the Junior World Championships in 2023, setting a new British Record with our achievements. We have continued to advance our results to ensure our selection again this season. For a team from a small town we are achieving greater results than any Great British team before us and are being recognised by teams across the world as worthy competitors. We were awarded D&G life sports team of the year 2023 and our dreams to continue to grow these accomplishments this season are already coming true.
We are 17 teenage girls, ranging in age from 14-19 and we work incredibly hard as a team, devoted to our sport. Across a week; we have late nights and very early starts - this season in particular we have made many 4am trips to Murrayfield or Braehead, dedicating many hours on and off the ice because we all love this sport and our team. We want to do well for each other, our coaches and our supporters and we really have been making dreams come true in recent years. Our coaching team have been working hard to further enhance our performance and wellbeing with specialist support which includes a sports psychologist, motivational speakers, dance and fitness experts. All of which has had a positive impact however it does increase the expense as does our selection to the World Championships.
Synchronised skating means so much to each of us, we feel so lucky to be able to take part in such an incredible sport locally in Dumfries and have such talented coaches available to us. This is a sport we have dedicated many years to, our team and club feel like family and we are making memories that we will cherish forever. We are achieving and experiencing moments very few get to in their lifetime and it is so special for all of us. We do this while working around school, college and university and many of us also have part time jobs.
It’s beyond our wildest dreams to be named British record holders and to represent our country at a World Championship level but honestly its more than that! It’s the freedom and joy skating brings. It’s the escape and happiness no matter what else is going on at home, school and work. We also learn so much about team work, compromise & resilience and the greatness that can be achieved from hard work, team bonding and dedication.
We strive to ensure our team is inclusive for all and therefore we continually think of ways to raise funds. So far this season we have hosted ice discos and an ice show. We have bag packed and held bucket shakes too. We also gain support by way of sponsorship which I hope is where you can come in. I would be delighted with a reply to my letter with any offer of support and in return we can offer options to support/ promote your business too.
Thanks in advance for helping us make dreams come true and supporting our bid to place our town on the map for achievements in Synchronised Ice Skating,
I hope to hear from you soon,
Abbie Milligan
Abbie Milligan
Solway Stars Team Captain
Organizer
Jane Turner
Organizer