International hockey player will raise awareness of concussion in sport
Great Britain and England hockey player Shona McCallin will be in Guernsey next month, raising awareness about the dangers of concussion in sport.
The Olympic gold and bronze medallist and 2022 Commonwealth gold medal winner will support a series of events organised by the Guernsey Hockey Club and Headway Guernsey.
McCallin will also attend a fundraising dinner before helping to kick off the hockey season with a morning of fun activities for children at the annual HockeyFest.
She experienced a ‘brutal concussion’ and will share her experiences of that trauma as well as talking about her Commonwealth Games and Olympic memories.
Ali Le Tocq, CEO of Guernsey Hockey, said: ‘Women’s sport is on a high at the moment with the success of England Football’s Lionesses and England Hockey’s gold medal in Birmingham and we are delighted to welcome Shona to Guernsey. We are looking forward to hearing more about her hockey career and joining in with our minis during Hockeyfest.’
Philippa Stahelin, Executive Director Headway Guernsey, said: ‘At Headway, we’ve seen the number of referrals to our service for post-concussion syndrome increase. We’re learning more all the time about the cognitive, physical and emotional issues that can arise from this type of brain injury. Shona’s lived experience will be used as invaluable learning for our island coaches. She will also meet some of our members to talk about the challenges they face living with a long-term brain injury.’
McCallin made her international hockey debut as part of England’s U16 squad, going on to 85 junior international caps.
She has competed in two Olympic Games, medalling in both. She achieved her 50th combined international appearance for Great Britain and England during the Rio Olympic Final, a historic night for Great Britain Hockey.
It was the first ever Olympic gold in women’s hockey with more than nine million people watching on BBC 1.
She achieved her 100th combined international appearance during the Tokyo Olympics, where winning bronze was the team’s third consecutive Olympic medal.
McCallin was a key player in England’s most recent victory – a first time Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.
Hockeyfest starts at 10am on Sunday 11 September. The fundraising dinner is on Saturday 10 September at 7.30pm. A workshop for coaches takes place on the Saturday from 2.30pm (email info@guernseysports.com for more information on that event).
If you would like to attend the fundraising dinner or want more information about the weekend please contact ali@guernseyhockey.com or fundraising@headwayguernsey.org.gg
