Tuesday 5 July was a very exciting day for one CPSU team member, who helped carry the Queen’s Baton as part of the relay for the Commonwealth Games.
Carole Billington-Wood, CPSU Senior Consultant, jogged a 200m segment of the baton’s journey through Cheltenham on Tuesday evening.
Carole was nominated to carry the baton due to her dedication to keeping children safe in sport. She has always had a passion for sport: as an elite triathlete in her 20s, when she competed and won medals internationally, and then following her retirement as an athlete, as Director of Development at British Triathlon.
On hearing she had been selected as a Baton-bearer, Carole said:
“It’s such a huge honour and a celebration of sport. The relay is about bringing communities together and I feel so proud to be a part of that.”
Carole has worked at the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit for the last 17 years, supporting sports organisations to improve their safeguarding and keep children taking part in sport safe. Over the past few months, Carole has had a personal challenge following a diagnosis of lymphoma. This has not stopped her dedication to the NSPCC CPSU team and work to keeping athletes safe.
We at the CPSU are so proud of Carole, and we are delighted that she is receiving this well-deserved recognition for her determination and commitment and the incredible impact she has had on sport.