THE TEAM at Pershore Tennis Centre are preparing to host the local leg of a nationwide charity challenge – Breakpoint 2019 – aiming to hit mental health where it hurts.
The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) club of the year will host the nationwide tennis fund-raiser run by Danny Sapsford, the ex-Davis Cup player, who runs Bright Ideas for Tennis.
Supported by the LTA and All England Lawn Tennis Club, the event aims to raise awareness of the benefits tennis has on one’s mental well-being and to raise funds to expand the I Play 30 initiative, which currently provides free tennis to disability groups, with a particular on-going focus on mental health.
This summer, Robyn Moore, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, will aim to hit 200,000 tennis shots and play for a minimum of eight hours per day for 30 consecutive days, hitting the ball five million metres to represent one metre for every adult individual in the UK who currently experiences mental ill health.
Her tennis shots will be recorded by Swing – an app which will track every ball she hits.
Breakpoint 2019 will start with Tim Henman on June 1 in Robyn’s home county of Hampshire and continue to nearly 50 venues across the UK.
Each day will be a festival of tennis – open to the public to watch and participate. Through the support of the LTA, Robyn will play in parks, schools, tennis clubs, community centres and at some of the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association grass court season tournaments in the build-up to Wimbledon.
Robyn will hit her final shots at the All England Club Community Sports Ground on June 30 – the day before Wimbledon 2019 commences.
“Regular participation in tennis has been shown to have significant benefits on people’s mental and physical well-being which is why it is so important that more people get involved in tennis at every age across the country,” said Sapsford, charity manager of Bright Ideas for Tennis.
Fund-raising for Breakpoint 2019 has started and everyone across the UK is encouraged to get involved. Clubs which participate in fund-raising will have the chance to win a visit from top tennis professionals.
For more about the event at Pershore Tennis Centre, head to www.pershoretennis.co.uk or contact 01386 556677.
