Chroma Ventures backs new not-for-profit athletics venture launched by Eilish McColgan

Giving Back to Track is a not-for-profit organisation founded by British middle- and long-distance runners Eilish McColgan and Michael Rimmer. Its aim is to encourage kids in Scotland to lead an active lifestyle and has been established by McColgan and Rimmer as a means of giving back to the sport that has provided them with so many incredible opportunities throughout their careers to date.

Eilish McColgan said: "No child should be priced out of athletics, so our hope is that Giving Back to Track can be an avenue to provide support to individuals who need it the most – whether that be covering the cost of track facilities, buying training kit or paying for club fees."

Giving Back to Track will focus its efforts initially on Eilish’s home club of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, but the intention is to extend its reach across the rest of Scotland as it continues to grow and evolve.

Last month, Eilish broke Paula Radcliffe's 21-year-old British half-marathon record with a time of 1hr6m26s in only her second competitive half-marathon. 

She has now created a scholarship fund to support female athletes across Scotland, aged 16-22 (U17, U20, U23 age groups) and will be open to all abilities. 

The Eilish McColgan Scholarship programme will run for one full year and individuals are encouraged to apply via the Giving Back to Track website https://givingbacktotrack.org/ if they compete within track and field or in the sport of running. 

"We are looking for inspirational young women, so if that sounds like you please get in touch," added Eilish.

Paddy Burns, principal of Chroma Ventures, which is one of the corporate supporters of Giving Back to Track, said:"This is a great new initiative from Eilish and Michael and we are very proud to be involved.

"We have supported Scottish Athletics' grassroots competitions for some time through 4J Studios, so this felt like a natural extension of that work. It will be a pleasure to watch the project take shape and support young athletes in Scotland over the next few years."   

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