Lotta Mansfield, Finn Mansfield, Charlotte Allen and Mytchel Briars have each received Inspire Awards from local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) to help them reach their sporting goals in 2021.

The JHMT set up the scheme in memory of Joe Humphries, 14, who sadly never got to achieve his goals.

Joe died of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in October 2012, while out jogging near his Rothley home. This group of genetic heart conditions can strike without any warning, in seemingly fit and healthy children and young adults.

Since Joe's death, his family and friends formed the JHMT to campaign tirelessly for better understanding and awareness of SADS, more CPR training and defibrillators. They also set up the Inspire Awards small grants scheme, to help young people aged 13-21 from Leicester and Leicestershire.

To date, the Trust has awarded 214 grants to young people totaling £37,646.

All four are really looking forward to competing once again following the enduring impact of Covid-19 on the UK sporting calendar.

Mytchel Briars is 16 years old and from Ratby. He first picked up a tennis racket when he was 5 years old and hasn't stopped playing since. Having played in club league teams in every age group from under 8s to under 18s, he now plays for the men's 1^st team.

Mytchel realised he wanted to become a tennis coach by watching his own coach's passion and enthusiasm for the sport, and how he just wanted to get everyone on court learning and having fun no matter what their age or ability. The first major step to becoming a full-time tennis coach is to pass the LTA Level 1 Tennis Coaching Course.

Mytchel said: "My Inspire award grant of £175 means everything to me as I can now take the first step to becoming a full-time tennis coach, which is something I have dreamed of doing since I started playing tennis at the age of 5."

Lotta Mansfield is 18 years old and from Wymeswold and is an international level cyclist who races Cyclocross, Road and MTB. Her passion for racing started in 2008, when she took part in her first race, and she has been racing ever since. She currently races for Cero/Cycle Division.

Having grown up racing circuit road races, MTB, track and cyclocross, Lotta now specialises as an off-road rider.

During the 2020-21 cyclocross season, she was selected to represent Great Britain at the first ever Junior Women's Cyclocross World Cup in Tabor, Czech Republic, where she came 21st. Having been selected to represent Great Britain for the European Championships and the World Cup in Namur, Belgium, both competitions were cancelled due to Covid restrictions.

Lotta says she is so grateful for her JHMT Inspire award grant of £250, as the funds will help towards buying a new bike and wheels.

Charlotte Allen is 18 years old and from Quorn. She is currently studying sport science at Loughborough college. Alongside her studies, Charlotte is a member of the both the Wasps netball academy and Loughborough College netball academy. She also finds time to play in the East Midlands regional league division 1 for her club, Northants Storm, and in the local Loughborough League Premier Division for Mollbuzzers.

Charlotte said: "With the support of a JHMT Inspire grant of £200, I will be able to continue achieving my goals. This will help me take part in coaching courses, attend netball camps and obtain a gym membership to focus on getting my body stronger and fitter in order for me to compete at a higher level this season and in trials in the summer."

Finn Mansfield is 19 years old and from Wymeswold. He is currently studying Medical Microbiology at the University of Bristol. In addition to his studies, Finn has been racing bikes for nearly 10 years, starting with racing cyclocross then racing road and MTB.

In 2020, he took a gap year to race cyclocross full time in Belgium. He spent 3 months racing the pro cyclocross circuit in Belgium and the Netherlands, training and racing as a professional.

Finn said: "Now that I've left home, I've discovered how expensive cycling is! Bike maintenance really stretches the student budget but my JHMT Inspire grant of £250 will help me keep my bikes in good working order so that I can train and race at the highest level."

Simon Taylor, Inspire Awards lead for the JHMT, said: After an extended period where our young people have had to limit their aspirations and endeavours, it is great to see once more some terrific talent expressing itself. Through Inspire, we are here to assist and encourage more of that."

To find out more about the JHMT and the Inspire Awards , visit www.jhmt.org.uk/inspire