Wendy Russell, Brighton and Hove Hockey Club's Head of Juniors Development, has been further recognised nationally for her inspiring and innovative work with hearing-impaired hockey players in the inaugural Lucozade Sports Movers List announced this week.

The list identifies 50 individuals nationwide who inspire others to move and make time for fitness and exercise. Lucozade Sports researchers found that 61 per cent of men and 71 per cent of women are more likely to stick to regular sport and exercise if they are part of a group as opposed to on their own.

Wendy is among an elite list of diverse individuals - who range from steering youths away from gang violence to being dedicated to keeping senior citizens fit - recognised and highlighted by Lucozade Sport. All selected are united in their passion to help others discover the joy of movement and the Movers List is further designed to help people find facilities near them and challenge them to take up a new sport.

Wendy said she was "excited, overwhelmed, shocked and hugely privileged to be amongst some amazing and inspirational people on the Lucozade Sport Movers List."

She has been recognised nationally before: at the 2015 UK Coaching Awards, Wendy won the Disability Coach of the Year Award.

Lucozade's citation for Wendy reads: "After being diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus, Wendy Russell set up the first deaf hockey session in the country at Brighton and Hove Hockey Club. She worked with Remark to develop 40 new sign language signs for hearing-impaired players of all ages, which has now been rolled out by UK Deaf Sport and England Hockey to make hockey accessible to hearing-impaired and deaf people across the whole of the country."

Wendy says: "When I was coaching two girls whose parents are deaf, I became aware of the lack of provision for deaf children to do sports in the area. I wanted to find a way that they could communicate with their team-mates and respond to the umpire. I think that to engage people in sport, you've got to be willing to experiment and make it fun first."

Brighton and Hove Hockey Club send their congratulations to Wendy for her latest honour and express their pride in her continuing work in developing young hockey talent and with the hearing impaired.

To read more about the Movers List visit:
https://www.lucozadesport.com/the-movers-list/?fbclid=IwAR1vM9EDNb3lJLrDX3CJe5Bv1IYm_z34ptwf37ABj897jTqtz-hn2a3pRDk