Denise May

Denise is absolutely relentless in her desire to improve young people's lives through sport. As Head of Girls PE and now Director of Sport at Budehaven Community School she has made a huge impact on the amount and variation of opportunities that are available to young people through sport. She is immensely well respected and liked by the students who will do anything for her. For years she has given all her time to young people and sport. Here are some of things she has been doing: Founded Bude Bay Netball Club which she ran for 23 yrs Sourced over £390,000 for the development of school sports facilities Founded the nationally recognised charity C.A.T.S. (Community Action Through Sport) which publically recognises young people for positive things that they have done in their community, by awarding them with a sport or health related award. Denise has been persistent in keeping C.A.T.S. running through difficult times with no funding and C.A.T.S. has now received £290,000. Taken the Sport of Netball to Ethiopia - through a school project linking with Assosa School in Ethiopia. She involved England Netball who want to get more African Nations playing netball and has taken students out as coaches and sports leaders. The project has so far raised £25,000 for Ethiopia. Denise is an inspiration to all the young people who have met her and worked with her. It would be a fantastic reward for such a long-standing ambassador for sport to be involved in the torch relay. Denise was presented with the MBE at Buckingham Palace in April 2010 in recognition of her services to sport and education. Ethiopia has gained associate membership of the International Federation of Netball with 39 schools now playing netball.