Meet our Girls
Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS) have secured a number of local female champions for the This Girl Can campaign! Find out more about them below.
Natasha Mina
Natasha Mina started kickboxing aged 8 and started competing at age 12. Due to other commitments her participation became irregular around school age. She came through the local WISPA project (women in sport and physical activity) which re-motivated her to get back into sport and physical activity. She is now fully engaged by participating herself and coaching kickboxing.
Natasha said:"The 'This Girl Can' campaign is uplifting and the advert is exhilarating and motivating for me and every female that I have discussed it with.
It is an excellent and powerful concept that I have full belief in. I suspect a surge of women just like our 'real ladies' to come forward in confidence ready to participate in a world of activity.
I myself feel empowered when I think to myself, 'this girl can hold pads', 'this girl can hit hard', 'this girl can kick high', 'this girl can fight'".
- @NatashaMina
Paige Murray
Paige is a T34 U23 wheelchair athlete, who was introduced to racing a number of years ago. She found great love and enthusiasm for racing and her dream is to one day be representing Great Britain. Prior to racing Paige worked proactively both as a sports leader and ambassador within several organisations.
Paige hopes to encourage others to achieve their very best. That dreams can become a reality with hard work and commitment, taking little steps to accomplish those long term aims.
Paige said:
"I am delighted to be a champion for THIS GIRL CAN it is a real privilege, to be involved in such a brilliant and encouraging initiative. It is fantastic to be able to support woman and girls to embrace sport and physical activity. Sport creates huge IMPACT, every girl CAN and deserves to experience the positive benefits that sport has to offer."
- Mobile
- Paige-Murray-Athlete-1638998486315509/
- @SootyRacer21
- http://facebook.com/Paige-Murray-Athlete-1638998486315509/
Jennifer Pollock
Jennifer has autism and a language disorder which can make socialising very difficult; but she certainly doesn't let this hold her back in any way. Hockey has helped her gain lifelong friends who understand who she is and see her potential.
Jennifer plays for Leicester Ladies Hockey Club, umpires when she can, and coaches for Rutland Hockey School every week and sometimes for Leicester Ladies when needed. Jennifer is a Maths Tutor at Market Bosworth School and is Assistant Coach for Under 13 Girls at a Junior Academy Centre.
Jennifer said said:
"There are challenges being an autistic adult and my social skills are still developing but given my past and present I feel that I have something unique to offer as a This Girl Can Champion.
I very much enjoy volunteering so I decided to sign up to see if I could be a Games Maker for London 2012, which I did as a Transport Team Member at the Riverbank Arena with the hockey.
This gave me some new friends and a new insight to life and a great experience.
Currently at Leicester Hockey club I am the 4th Team Captain and I feel appreciated for the first time in my life and as though I do have something to be proud of. Sport has created me."