Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby and Bulkington, last week joined members of the 14 different branches of the Shree Prajapati Association (SPA) for their annual National Sports Day event, who competed in 10 different sports in Rugby.
The SPA is a Gujarati community charity, founded in 1975, with branches across the UK. Their mission is to advance Gujarati culture and raise money for national and international charitable causes.
The SPA Sports Day is held annually and attracts nearly 1000 people each year, in which approximately 500 sporting talents of all ages and abilities take part, travelling as far as Preston in the north and London in the south. This year’s Sports Day event was held in Rugby, across 4 venues in the town, and also on the 40th anniversary of the association.
After the event, Mark said:
“It was a pleasure to join the Gujarati community and celebrate their National Sports Day here in Rugby, the home of the original Sports Day, which was held in 1977. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the association and I am proud to see it being celebrated here in Rugby.”
Mark continued:
“The SPA are a charity which is involved in a number of positive campaigns for both national and local causes. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in one particular local project with the SPA Rugby branch – the Sewa Walkathon around Draycote Water. This event helped raise over £1,000 for a new Breast Cancer Unit for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW).
Mark concluded:
“I am very pleased to see that in this year’s Sports Day our local Rugby branch won in Netball, +40 Football, Darts Single, Darts Doubles, and Junior Swimming. In addition, Rugby SPA were awarded the Fair Play Trophy, plus the Chetan Trophy which is awarded to the branch which has won the most trophies. This is a fantastic achievement for the Rugby branch.”