July 7th, 2024 - DROITWICH SPA LEISURE CENTRE
Welcome to The Tom Jones Festival of Sport and Family Fun Day
July 7th, 2024
Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre, Briar Mill, Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcestershire WR9 0RZ
The Tom Jones Festival of Sport is a fitting tribute to a young man who simply loved life and sports. With an Aquathlon Challenge, a youth football tournament and a "Have-a-Go" Rugby Fun Day, it will be a local sporting extravaganza. The Family Fun Day will celebrate Tom’s loving and enduring connection to his family. With great food, refreshments, music, kids’ rides, and fun activities, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Our Events
Help us to honour Tom’s memory and make a difference by signing up to the Aquathlon Challenge, entering a team, sponsoring a part of the event, or supporting us on the day.
Don’t forget to bring all your friends and family along to support these amazing events!
The Tom Jones Aquathlon Challenge
A swim/run event for all ages. The swim will take place in the centre’s 25m pool, and the run will take place on a well-marshalled closed course routed around the leisure centre grounds. Assistance will be available at the transition point for younger participants.
SIGN UPThe Tom Jones European Championship Festival of Football
Enjoy some friendly competition throughout the day with a 48-team youth tournament for boys’ and girls’ teams.
Sign your team up today to one of the divisions below:
Boys – U8, U10 and U11
Girls – U10, U11 and U12
The Tom Jones "Have-a-Go" Rugby Fun Day
Free* rugby-themed fun activities for tots and kids aged 1.5 to 11 years. *optional donation to WMSAR for participation
Multiple sessions are being run throughout the day. You can register your interest in advance using the links below, or simply turn up on the day.
SIGN UP 1.5 - 7 yearsSIGN UP 7 - 11 yearsThe Tom Jones
Family Fun Day
Running alongside the sporting events, the Tom Jones Family Fun Day offers something for everyone. Bring the entire family to cheer on their Aquathlon challenger or favourite team, then relax and enjoy some food and entertainment.
As featured on BBC Radio
Hereford and Worcester
Why are we organising such an ambitious event?
The answer revolves around one amazing young man and a group of selfless people dedicated to serving their community.
In 2018, Tom Jones was a bright young man with a sparkle in his eyes and the world at his feet. He loved his family, and he was passionate about sports, particularly football. An avid West Bromwich Albion fan, he attended as many games as he could with his dad, Ian. He was also happy spending time in the kitchen with his mum, Vicki, or listening to bands like Oasis and The Stone Roses. His bond with Ellie, his sister was beyond strong. The Harry Potter movies were a shared delight, and he loved to play UNO with her or challenge her at crazy golf. During a family vacation to Disney in July 2018, they were inseparable as they teamed up to brave the rollercoasters together. He was the perfect big brother with the biggest heart.
Fun, polite and blessed with an easy-going charm, Tom made friends quickly and had blossomed during his sixth form years. With increasing confidence and a growing sense of purpose, Tom told his family and friends that he wanted to make a difference in the world by becoming a primary school teacher. He even arranged a short period of work experience in a local school where he soon became a hit with both the pupils and the staff. He was a natural communicator whose youthful enthusiasm inspired everyone who encountered him. He made such an impression that the head teacher encouraged him to continue his studies, qualify, and come back to the job that would be waiting for him.
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Pursuing his dream, Tom secured a place at Worcester University and had just begun his latest adventure when tragedy struck. Tom went missing on September 19th while walking alongside the River Severn. Tom’s body was recovered from the river on September 28th. West Mercia Search and Rescue (WMSAR) played a leading role in the search for Tom and, while the sad outcome was certainly not what anyone had hoped for, the team’s recovery of Tom’s body provided a measure of closure for his grieving family and friends.
The Tom Jones Festival of Sport is a fitting tribute to a young man who simply loved life and sports. With an Aquathlon Challenge, a youth football tournament and a "Have-a-Go" Rugby Fun Day, it will be a local sporting extravaganza. The Family Fun Day will celebrate Tom’s loving and enduring connection to his family. With great food, refreshments, music, kids’ rides, and fun activities, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
The event will also be a key fundraiser for the organisation that was there for Tom’s family and will be continue to there for individuals and families in need in the future. Without the public’s generous help, West Mercia Search and Rescue would be unable to function. A portion of the funds raised will also benefit St. Richard’s Hospice, The Tom Jones In Memorium Fund, Worcester Triathlon Club and Droitwich Spa Youth Football Club.
About West Mercia Search and Rescue
West Mercia Search and Rescue is a registered charity that raises funds to train, equip and operate a 100% volunteer staffed search and rescue team. When someone is declared missing in Shropshire, Herefordshire or Worcestershire, WMSAR members leave their jobs and their families to search land and water until that person is located. WMSAR is also a DEFRA Flood Response Boat Team and can be deployed anywhere in the U.K. to help people in danger or in need at times of flooding.
It costs around £100,000 per year to keep the team operational. The charity is entirely dependent upon donations, sponsorships and grants to meet their financial needs. The team serves a population of 1.2 million people, covers 6,500 square miles and logs an average of 5,000 incident hours each year.
FIND OUT MORE
Help us to honour
Tom’s memory
Interested in sponsorship opportunities?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Rick Leach - Land Search Technician / Fundraising Volunteer
West Mercia Search and Rescue (WMSAR)
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