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# Olympic medallist Louis Smith inspires at Ipswich SportsAid fundraising lunch
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/olympic-medallist-louis-smith-inspires-at-ipswich-sportsaid-fundraising-lunch/
- Published: 2025-04-24T07:32:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:13:50.000Z
- Description: Gymnast Louis Smith MBE shared his journey with 168 guests at Venue 16 to raise funds for promising young athletes like local triathlete Darcy Gladwell.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Third Sector, Grassroots Sport, #article, SportsAid Eastern, Ellisons Solicitors, #Import 2026-03-16 14:45

**Why it matters:** The event supports [SportsAid Eastern](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/sportsaid-eastern/)'s mission to champion the next generation of athletes who achieve national rankings but don't yet qualify for National Lottery funding.

**The big picture:** SportsAid Eastern was established in 1999 as one of nine regional charities across England, helping to bridge the funding gap for talented young athletes during critical stages of their development.

![Louis Smith MBE](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1745351035-louis-smith-mbe-1.jpg)

Louis Smith MBE (SportsAid Eastern)

**Details:** The fundraising lunch, hosted by SportsAid Eastern and [Ellisons Solicitors](https://www.ipswich.co.uk/tag/ellisons-solicitors/), brought together business leaders from across Suffolk.

- Smith, one of Team GB's most decorated gymnasts with four Olympic medals, delivered what organisers called a "raw and powerful talk" about the sacrifices and mindset required to achieve Olympic success.
- Rising triathlete Darcy Gladwell was this event's beneficiary, described as having "a clear trajectory toward elite-level competition."

**What they're saying:** Jane Horridge, Director of SportsAid Eastern, said: "Having Louis speak so openly and honestly about his journey was truly inspiring – his story resonated with everyone in the room. And to see the community come together to back young athletes like Darcy is exactly what SportsAid is all about."

![Louis Smith MBE and Darcy Gladwell](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1745351111-louis-smith-darcy-gladwell.jpg)

Louis Smith MBE and Darcy Gladwell (SportsAid Eastern)

**Who's involved:** Seven local businesses sponsored the event, which attracted 168 guests. Becketts, Pound Gates, Ensors, Ellisons Solicitors, Handelsbanken, StrategiQ, and Fenn Wright all supported the event as sponsors and partners.

**The bottom line:** Events like this provide financial backing directly to promising young athletes who rely heavily on their families to pursue sporting goals, helping to support Suffolk's future sporting stars.

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