Impact Stories

Two sisters from Crowborough have shown a huge commitment to Albion in the Community – but in very different ways.

For Izzy Marr, who has Down’s syndrome, sessions with Albion in the Community are the highlight of the week.

Izzy loves playing football at AITC’s inclusive sessions – she takes part in football training sessions every Sunday, and wellbeing sessions every Wednesday.

“I like the atmosphere and I’ve made lots of friends. The instructors are friendly too, I like all of them,” Izzy said.

As well as attending AITC sessions every week, Izzy is also a massive Albion fan.

She follows the Albion religiously, keeping an especially close eye on her favourite player Lewis Dunk.

Izzy has even played on the Amex pitch, as well as walking out alongside the Women’s first team as a mascot in their first ever fixture at the Amex.

If there’s one thing Izzy loves more than the Albion it’s her sister, Annie – who Izzy said was her “hero”.

Annie saw how much Izzy enjoys her time with AITC and became inspired to become a fundraiser for the charity.

Annie told us that Izzy just can’t get enough of Albion in the Community: “Izzy never wants to miss a single session, it means so much to her and she’s made so many new friends.

“No matter where she is – the living room, the car, the hairdressers – Izzy makes sure she never misses an online session,” Annie said.

After seeing how much her sister loves her time with AITC, Annie was inspired to go out and raise money for the charity herself.

“Izzy never wants to miss a single session, it means so much to her and she’s made so many new friends.

Annie, 17, is a keen hockey player but she had never tried long-distance running before – that is until she decided to run the Brighton Half Marathon for AITC.

She completed the 13-mile run in February, raising more than £630 for AITC in the process. Izzy told us that she is “very proud” of her sister for raising so much money.

Annie says that running in the half marathon was an “amazing experience”, and that she was proud to represent a charity so close to her sister’s heart.

“Albion in the Community has always been really, really good with Izzy,” Annie explained.

“They have always looked after her, particularly during lockdown, they really went above and beyond.”

Izzy was one of the many AITC participants who took part in online wellbeing sessions every Saturday during lockdown, when in-person activities weren’t possible.

Annie told us that these wellbeing sessions were a lifeline for Izzy.

“Mental health was really important during lockdown and Izzy was even more isolated than other people, but Albion in the Community still looked after her.

“That’s what kept her going through lockdown. It really meant a lot to us, it’s nice to know that someone cares.”

To find out more about the award-winning work of Albion in the Community, visit: www.bhafcfoundation.org.uk

This story was written when our name was Albion in the Community. As of August 1 2023, we are the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.