Team GB’s hockey heroes will have the support of staff from a leading children’s hospice when they vie for glory at the Olympics Games.
Proud dad Brian Martin volunteers for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and his daughter, Hannah French, is a linchpin of the women’s team in Paris.
A midfielder for English Premier League side Surbiton, the 29-year-old is no stranger to success, having previously won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, in 2020, and struck gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham.
Now she and her team-mates will be hoping to make the podium once again when they do battle with Spain, Australia, South Africa, the USA and Argentina in their initial group games in the French capital.
Brian will be there, cheering her on, and his new friends at EACH will no doubt be tuning in and sending good luck vibes from The Treehouse.
“I’ve told a few people here and am immensely proud of both Hannah and her brother, Harry, who played for the men’s hockey team at the London, Rio and Tokyo Olympics,” said the 66-year-old, who volunteers every Wednesday morning.
“They’ve both done fantastically, although I know how hard they’ve had to work for their success.
“It hasn’t come easily and they’ve had to make lots of sacrifices along the way.”
Brian started volunteering for EACH in June and is part of the charity’s Helping Hands group – a team that give their time to help however necessary, freeing up valuable time for wellbeing and admin staff. He also marshalled at the recent Piglet Junior Hog fundraiser.
“It’s very satisfying and nice to be in a position to help others,” said the 66-year-old.
“We live in a selfish world and, over the years, I’ve been as guilty as anyone of putting number one first. We all do.
“Now I’ve got the time to give something back and hopefully my little contribution helps in some way.
“It could be anything, from filing and laminating to putting things away, setting things up, moving things – literally anything that frees up time to help the staff.
“The Treehouse is such a positive, inspiring place and it was a real pleasure to be at the Treefest event here in June.
“To see the families having such fun and being themselves, in an environment where they clearly feel safe and comfortable, was genuinely humbling.
“The staff were incredible, too. So much effort and detail went into everything and it was beautifully done.
“There are lots of great causes out there but anything that helps children has my full support.”
Brian, who lives in Holbrook, spent 35 years as an agronomist – working with and advising farmers throughout Suffolk and Essex.
Prior to that he spent six years as a “cowboy” in Venezuela, managing ten ranches across South America.
He has no particular connection to EACH – aside from being a long-term admirer of its work.
When his wife, Anita, sadly died two years ago, he sent all money raised from donations at her funeral to EACH.
“I retired in 2022 and decided now was the time to start giving something back,” he said.
“I wanted to keep active and busy. I’ve always known of EACH, admired and respected its work and been aware of things like its Happy Christmas Ipswich fundraiser.
“Then I looked on the website and found out about Helping Hands.
“It’s an amazing charity that does so much – not just for the children but their whole family.”
To find out more about volunteering for EACH, visit each.org.uk/volunteering, email volunteering@each.org.uk or call 01223 205183 (option four).
