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Tessa Sanderson archive photograph
One Night Exhibition BGO & MoD

The Tessa
Sanderson Story

Breaking Boundaries — 1st October 2026

A compelling collection of photographs celebrating Tessa's golden journey — from emigration and early struggle to Olympic glory and a legacy still being built.

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About This Event

A golden journey, told in full

This exhibition brings together a compelling collection of photographs that celebrate Tessa's golden journey — a unique lens through which to explore present-day issues by reflecting on a life of triumph.

It traces her emigration from Jamaica to Britain, the struggles of her early teenage years, and the social and financial obstacles she overcame on the way to glory. It follows her through the competition years, when she fought for recognition and a fair shot on the world stage.

And it continues beyond the track — into life after sport, her family, her charitable work, and the new sense of purpose she has built beyond athletics. Tessa's legacy is one of unshakable determination, breaking barriers, and overcoming adversity: a true testament to an unbreakable spirit.

Key Objectives

What the evening delivers

A one-night exhibition built to work as press moment, donor event, and public programme launch all at once.

01

Reveal

Unveil the exhibition to press, partners, and the public in a single evening.

02

Convene

Bring corporates, government, schools, and community leaders into one room.

03

Fund

Support the live auction and wider public programme through the evening's proceeds.

04

Launch

Open the door to the school and public programmes that follow.

Programme Schedule

One evening, six moments

1st October 2026
4:00 – 6:00pm
Press Reception
Tessa Sanderson & BGO
6:00 – 7:00pm
Drinks Reception
Guests arrive
7:00 – 7:30pm
Welcome & Presentation
Troy Richards, Tessa Sanderson & Alexander Morris
7:30 – 8:30pm
Narrated Exhibitions & Short Film
Guided walkthrough of the collection
8:30 – 9:00pm
Featured Individuals & Auction
Supporting stories and fundraising auction
9:00 – 9:30pm
Live Performance
 
9:30 – 10:30pm
Acknowledgement & Closing
 
Potential Guest List

200 people, ten kinds of guest

A room built for reach as much as celebration — corporate partners, government and defence, schools and community leaders, and the press, alongside VIPs and future strategic partners.

200
Total
Capacity
Celebrities
40
Local Business
30
City of London
20
BGO Staff
20
MoD Staff
20
Schools & Community
20
Government
20
VIP
10
Press
10
Strategic Partners
10
Beyond the Night

Two ways the exhibition keeps working

The one-night event is the launch — not the whole story. Two ongoing programmes carry it forward through the autumn.

School Programme

An 8-week tour for partner schools

A 60-minute tour of the exhibition offered to BGO's partner schools — including Westminster, Southwark, and Lambeth — run across 8 weeks, three groups a day, five days a week.

Potential reach: 6,000–8,000 students
Public Programme

Two public events a week, Sept–Dec

Ticketed at £150 with 40 attendees per event, twice weekly, generating roughly £12,000 in weekly revenue against £5,000 in costs.

Potential 13-week total: £45,500 for BGO
Join Us

Bring the room in for one night.

An exhibition, a programme, and a partnership pipeline — built around a story that's still being written.