The Lewis Andrews Foundation for young triathletes

We all know that triathlon isn't a cheap sport, and kit, entry fees and travel all quickly add up. Lewis Andrews was a Salisbury-based triathlete who worked hard and saved money religiously in order to get the gear he needed to compete in the sport he loved. His dream was to represent his country, Great Britain, and in 2011 he qualified to race at the ITU World Championships in Beijing, China. But tragically, less than three weeks before the event, Lewis was killed in a car accident.



Lewis was an inspiration to those around him, and his drive an passion were infectious. He made many friends in the local triathlon scene, and after the accident his friends and family decidede that it would be good to form a charitable foundation to raise funds and help aspiring athletes in their pursuit of multisport glory. To this end, the Lewis Andrews Foundation (LAF) has now been formally registered with the Charities Aid Foundation, and this will allow funds to be raised on a charitable basis.



The aim of the LAF is to allow two young athletes per year the opportunity to compete at the top of their game. A fund of £2,000 per person will cover entry, travel, lodgings and sustenance as well as kit for one season. The fund will be controlled by a small committee of officers from the LAF, and the committee is now inviting athletes under the age of 23 to submit a CV for consideration (please email dan@brunton.co.uk) with your race record of achievments to date and a brief overview of why you fell you should be considered. The committee are looking for young people who can go on and perform to the highest levels, but need the help of the LAF to achieve their dreams.



"We were overwhelmed by the messages of support from friends and family after Lewis's accident," said Collette Bradbury, Lewis's mother. "We were asked dozens of times what charity Lewis supported, but as such a young lad, he wasn't hugely into charity work. We therefore came to the conclusion that we should set up a charity in his memory and give other young people a chance to be as fortunate as Lewis.



"With the help of some of his closest racing friends, the LAF has now been set up and we're looking forward to helping two young people chase their dreams of being the best they can be in the sport Lewis loved so much."



A Facebook page has also been set up (find it here) and you can donate to this worthwhile cause in memory of Lewis.