Teenage twin footballers, Lily and Bella Wharin, 16, from near Bristol, who have recently signed to South West Women's League Premier Division team, Frampton Rangers Ladies FC, are using their success to champion international relief and development charity Tearfund. The sisters, long-term supporters of the charity alongside their family, want to highlight the needs of people living in extreme poverty and conflict around the world by raising awareness through their sport.
‘When we learnt that we could help promote the work of Tearfund as part of our contract, we jumped at the chance as they are a charity close to our hearts that we’ve been supporting for eight years now,’ Lily says.
Player sponsorship means that whenever Lily or Bella score a goal, or are named player of the match, Tearfund is mentioned on the team’s social media feeds.
‘Tearfund are really amazing at working with local churches and the community, getting to know them and understanding the needs of the people, and we just find that so inspiring. Injustice and poverty around the world bothers us. The fact that some people have so much and others have so little makes me angry! But we can all do something to help by raising awareness and money. We can end poverty,’ says Bella.
The twins will be raising money for their own sponsorship by hand making cards to sell at their local church. These have proved very popular before, according to the twins. ‘In the past, we’ve fundraised for Teafund by selling loom bands and cards raising around £1,800!’ says Lily.
‘Our church family has always been so generous when we've fundraised for Tearfund – we're really thankful.’
Stuart Lee, Tearfund’s Director of Global Fundraising and Communications, said, ‘Lily and Bella are incredibly talented young athletes, and we are so grateful they've chosen to use their sporting success to advocate for those in need. Tearfund works in some of the world's poorest countries, and it’s supporters like Lily and Bella who help make a difference to people living in extreme poverty. We are truly blessed to have them on our team.’
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Notes to Editors
About Tearfund
Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency and a member of the Disasters’ Emergency Committee. Founded in 1968, Tearfund has been working around the world for 50 years responding to disasters and helping lift communities out of poverty. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
