Manchester’s most inspirational sporting and cultural icons have once more been recognised and celebrated at a star-studded City of Champions gala fundraising event at The Lowry Hotel, Salford this evening.
The City of Champions gala dinner is an annual event organised by The Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, acknowledging the success of local people in the areas of sport, education and business, and especially those who are inspiring the next generation of champions.
The event welcomed many of the city’s most influential and successful sporting and business stars into the City of Champions Hall of Fame. Previous inductees have included British Athlete Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, Olympian Sir Chris Hoy MBE, and ex-footballer, broadcaster and serial entrepreneur Gary Neville.
Recognised for their ability to give back to the next generation of champions, the inductees for 2022 included British Paralympic Athlete, Dame Sarah Storey DBE; co-founder of Parklife and The Warehouse Project and night-time advisor to GM Mayor, Andy Burnham, Sacha Lord, and peace promoter and counter terrorism campaigner, Figen Murray OBE, who tragically lost her son, Martyn Hett, in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
This year’s event was held at The Lowry Hotel with entertainment from The Manchester Survivors’ Choir made up of people who were injured in the arena attack. Awards were presented by GM Mayor Andy Burnham, British Rally Champion Chris Ingram and Sam Piccione III.
Diane Modahl, MBE, CEO and co-founder of the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, said: “It is a real privilege for the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation to once again host the City of Champions event at The Lowry Hotel. The inductees honoured this year are inspirational to people of all ages with their dedication and commitment to make a positive difference to people’s lives and provide tangible opportunities for people and communities to be their very best. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended.”
The Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF) was established in April 2010. The purpose of the organisation is to take the chance out of success and make it a choice. Whilst sport runs throughout the DNA of the organisation, the larger percentage of their work sits within education, empowerment and leadership.
