Oldham's Olympic hopeful inspires red, white and blue day at local school.

Pupils at Holy Cross CEVA School, in Oldham, have decorated their building in red, white and blue, today, February 11, to support local girl Brogan Crowley, as she competes in the Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

The school has even appointed a temporary Olympic Co-ordinator, Sarah Walker (the Year 2 teacher and SENDCo), who has been working tirelessly, organising events and rallying staff together to make sure this once-in-a-lifetime event proceeds with a bang.  

The school is decorated with Team GB bunting, flags, newspaper cuttings and paper chains.

Pupils have created posters, written letters, and designed new race suits for Brogan, as well as inventing inspirational slogans.

Bev Crowley, Brogan's mum, works at the school and told us: "Our school corridors, classrooms and libraries are decorated for the event and the building veritably screams out to visitors that something very special is in the offing.  

"The sense of excitement around the school is tremendously palpable.

"Children have been engossed in Brogan’s story, watching videos of her achievements so far in wide-eyed wonder.

"As the event itself creeps ever closer, there is a thrilling anticipation that together, as a school as well as a country, we will witnessing a live, world-famous event, the star of which is someone we feel we already know.

"Brogan has visited Holy Cross School before and there is a connection felt by the children to her."

Many of the children have been inspired by Brogan's achievements. Lots of the activities taking place – the letter writing and messages of support, were instigated at the request of the children, many of whom, up until two weeks ago, didn’t know what the Winter Olympics was, let alone the Skeleton.

Bev says: "There is a vital sporting buzz around school at the moment. The feeling seems to be that if one girl from Oldham can make it, they all can!  It’s incredible to see our children so enthused." 

"The children have enjoyed assemblies this week which have told the story of Brogan’s journey to Beijing, starting from running in the local Oldham Olympics aged 10.

"The message is out there, transmitted school-wide, that to be a world class athlete and to come from a town like ours are no longer mutually exclusive concepts.

"The children now know that with drive and determination, they can set out to achieve sporting ambitions, and even stardom.

"It is now feasibly within their power to affect a major change in their lives.

"This is an impoverished neighbourhood, in the bottom 1% of social degradation across the UK.

"To hear stories such as Brogan’s, which put education, ambition and illustrate the benefits of hard work are important ones, which could realistically change lives and spell the way out of poverty. 

"We now have children proudly telling us that they would like to be Olympians one day or compete in the Skeleton themselves, proving that mindsets are changing."  

                                                Success in the face of adversity

Brogan Crowley went to St Chads Primary School in Uppermill, Hulme Grammar School, and Greenhead College in Huddersfield. She then went on to further education at Loughborough University. 

"Obviously, as parents, friends & family, we are all extremely proud of Brogan and are elated that she has overcome many setbacks, to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming an Olympian.

"However, Brogan’s story is one of someone who has shown great resilience and endeavour, whilst inspiring a new generation to simply follow their dreams and dream big," says her mother, Bev.  

This is Brogan’s first Olympics and she competes as a debutant.

She has worked alongside Team GB, British Bobsleigh & Skeleton and The National Lottery Funding. 

Bev says: "Right now, all that is important to us is the fact that she has made it this far in the face of adversity.

"We can’t dare to imagine beyond today’s event but our hopes and hearts are with her and we remain enormously proud of our girl"  

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