'This Girl Can' Calls On Women To 'Get Active, Raise Cash And Change Lives' For Sport Relief

'This Girl Can' Calls On Women To 'Get Active And Change Lives' For Sport Relief
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Last year Sport England's groundbreaking 'This Girl Can' campaign inspired women around the country to take up sport with its empowering message on body confidence.

Now, the campaign has joined forces with Sport Relief to encourage even more women and girls to "get active, raise cash and change lives".

Some of our favourite 'This Girl Can' mantras have been adapted for Sport Relief and will appear in new short films giving women ideas on how to get involved.

The film featured above is based on the mantra "every red face counts", and features Lara, from Newbury.

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At school Lara, now 23, was put off P.E. by her lack of co-ordination and felt intimidated by other girls who she believed were naturally much better than her. This only got worse once she hit puberty.

Then she discovered running. Even though at first she could barely run a mile, Lara's confidence began to improve. She loved the fact that it wasn’t competitive and the only person pushing her was herself.

A friend then introduced her to rowing and then to climbing, which she got more involved in while she was at university thanks to the facilities.

She’s now even started to take part in competitions and has been surprised by how supportive everyone is.

"I love being involved in This Girl Can. Even though I’m bright red and a bit sweaty in my film, I don’t mind as I think it’s really important to show images that other women can relate to," she said.

"It’s great to think that by being part of the campaign, I might have inspired someone to get active."

Lara's mum will be trying to swim 100 lengths for Sport Relief and Lara will be running for how ever long this takes her mum to complete the challenge.

If, like a younger Lara, you think sport isn't for you, why not use the Sport Relief initiative to try out something new?

There are lots of different ways you can get involved, from signing up to an event at the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Games to organising a sponsored netball match.

Comedienne Jo Brand and F1 presenter Suzi Perry are among those backing the 'This Girl Can' campaign.

Thousands of women have already created their own 'This Girl Can' posters using the campaign’s mobile web app. This has also been adapted so that women raising money can show everyone what they’re doing.

Tanya Joseph, 'This Girl Can' campaign director, said: "Fundraising is a lot like exercise – it’s not about what you do or how you do it. What matters is that you’re doing something that’s good for yourself, and good for other people.

"Women come in all shapes and sizes and levels of ability, and they should all feel able to exercise and play sport, and to do it for great causes like Sport Relief."

Visit sportrelief.com/events to sign up to the Games or thisgirlcan.co.uk for ideas on how to take part and get active.

Inspirational Women In Sport
Lisa Mason, Gymnast(01 of10)
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When Olympic gymnast Lisa Mason announced at 31 that she was planning to make a comeback after a 13-year break, nobody took her seriously. So, with no moral or financial support, the single mum set out to prove the world wrong. In the 2013 English Championships, her first comeback competition, Mason won gold in the vault and came fourth in the finals at the National British Championships after just five months of training. She is now training for Rio 2016. (credit:Alex Livesey via Getty Images)
Nicola Adams, Boxer(02 of10)
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Nicola Adams became the first British boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, at London 2012. The Olympic, European and Commonwealth champion has since become a role model to a nation of budding female boxers and has been justly garnered with an MBE. Adams is also seen as an inspiration in the LGBT community, and topped the Independent’s Pink List, which celebrates Britain’s most influential LGBT figures. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Clare Balding, Sports TV Presenter & Campaigner(03 of10)
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Clare Balding OBE was elevated from respected TV sports presenter to national treasure following her incredible coverage of London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics – and garnered a BAFTA Special Award. But Balding’s most inspirational role is that of tireless campaigner for women's sport - from gender equality and media coverage to inspiring young women to embrace sport. (credit:Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)
Jo Pavey, Athlete(04 of10)
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In 2014 (a month before her 41st birthday and just eight months after giving birth to her second child), Jo Pavey MBE won her first major championship gold, for the 10,000m at the European Championships in Zurich. As the oldest female European champion, Jo ‘Supermum’ Pavey has proved that motherhood does not make a woman less valuable – and that life really does begin at 40! Look out for Pavey at the 2016 Olympics. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rimla Akhtar, FA Council Board Member(05 of10)
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Rimla Akhtar is the first Muslim woman - one of only six women in total - to sit on the 121-strong FA Council. Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation, Akhtar advised Olympic organisers on female representation at London 2012. The Liverpool FC fan who plays and coaches, has been involved in numerous campaigns to make football more inclusive, including a successful campaign to get FIFA to allow women to play football, wearing hijabs. (credit:Scott Heavey via Getty Images)
Jessica Ennis-Hill, Athlete(06 of10)
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The poster girl of the 2012 Olympics, Jessica Ennis-Hill inspired a nation of young, aspiring female athletes to follow their dreams. In 2014, the Olympic heptathlon champion and British record-holder gave birth to her first child, Reggie. Months later she qualified for the 2016 Olympics. In 2014, the star bravely spoke out when her local football club, Sheffield United, was considering re-hiring convicted rapist Ched Evans on his release from prison. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Christine Ohuruogu, Athlete (07 of10)
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Christine Ohuruogu MBE is one of Great Britain’s most successful athletes of all time having won 400m Olympic gold and silver, and two individual world titles. After 2012, Ohuruogu, who also has a degree in Linguistics from prestigious London university UCL, set herself the task of visiting every school in her London borough to inspire a new generation of athletes. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Martine Wright, Paralympian(08 of10)
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Martine Wright is living proof that anything really is possible. After losing both her legs while on the Underground during the July 7 London bombings, the determined survivor began training as a sitting volleyball player and went on to be selected for the London 2012 British Paralympics team. Her positivity and unparalleled strength of character make her the ideal ambassador for disabled sport. (credit:Matthew Lloyd via Getty Images)
Fran Kirby, Footballer(09 of10)
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The shining star of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Fran Kirby’s meteoric rise has not been without its obstacles. Just three years ago, the 22-year-old Reading striker walked out of an England under-19 camp and announced she was quitting the game after being struck with a debilitating bout of depression – a delayed reaction to the sudden death of her mother when she was 14. Her remarkable comeback is testament to her courage and resilience. (credit:Clive Rose - FIFA via Getty Images)
Debbie Jevans, CEO, England Ruby 2015(10 of10)
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Former professional tennis player Jevans is the first female chief executive to organise a Rugby World Cup, and the first woman to be appointed director of sport for an Olympic Games when she led the double victory of an Olympic and Paralympic Games at London 2012. One of the few women sitting at the top table in sport, she is an ardent campaigner against gender imbalance in sport. (credit:Patrick Bolger via Getty Images)