Sparks, in its current form, arose from a charity founded in 1960 when disability campaigner, Duncan Guthrie, was inspired to raise money for medical research after his daughter, Janet, contracted poliomyelitis.
Guthrie enlisted the help of some of the leading sports personalities of the day, including football star Jimmy Hill and cricket legend Jim Laker, to help raise funds for much needed research into childhood conditions. The aim was to give all children the chance to live a full and active life. One of our first successes was funding research that helped to support the development of a polio vaccine responsible for eradicating the disease in the UK. Many more achievements have followed.
The charity as it is today was formally established in 1991 and we are extremely proud to have maintained our sporting links not only from our original supporters but also with a whole new generation of sports stars. Our sporting heritage is paramount and we continue to look to forge sporting links with both individuals and corporations across the country.