Croftlands Infant School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Team GB Paralympic Nordic Skier Callum Deboys. Callum needs your help to raise funds for vital training, medical and competition costs. This money will also help your school and other athletes across the country, find out more below!
At Croftlands Infant School motto "Be Caring. Be Happy. Always do your best" encompasses who they are and what they are about. The school are proud of every child each day.
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I started Para-Nordic skiing, Cross Country and Biathlon after a motorcycle accident left me with life-changing injuries. I broke both of my legs but also broke a femur which is the largest bone in the body. After the accident, I was placed in a coma at the roadside and rushed into the hospital for emergency surgery five days later, my leg was amputated. Once I had recovered in the hospital I began to dream about spinning this situation into something incredible. Immediately I started to train in sports at which point I began rowing, and from my coach, I was introduced to Scott Meenagh who then introduced me to Para-Nordic Skiing and I just fell in love with the sport from there.
My Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement is reaching the Paralympics. Selection for the Paralympics starts the year before the Paralympics which you have to score under 100 points to qualify as a British athlete for the games meaning that it’s harder to qualify as a British athlete than it is for anyone else! When I was selected I felt a massive wave of relief and proceeded to call everyone I knew to let them know!
My Greatest Challenge
Four months away from the Paralympics, I was involved in another bike accident, but this time I was training on my bicycle. I broke my nose and tore my tricep tendon off the bone which was quite devastating in such close proximity to the Paralympics. To recover from this I completed three months of excruciatingly painful physio in order to get my elbow moving again and to restore strength in the tendon in preparation for the Paralympics.
My Hobbies
In my free time, I enjoy cycling, fishing, kayaking and generally being outdoors! In terms of nutrition, I enjoy cooking and as a Nordic Skier I have a high carb and high protein diet which is helped by my previous profession as a chef as I like to mix up my diet and make meals exciting!
My Future goals
In the future I am looking to be selected and medal in 2024 at the Milan Winter Paralympics!
Who are Sports For Champions?
Great news! Sports For Champions UK (CIC) will soon visit your school! Your young people have been invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspiring them to be the champions of tomorrow.
While we're not all athletically inclined, we strongly encourage participation, all young people have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be!
After 12 years of success we have perfected our inspirational events and they are guaranteed to deliver for your school and pupils!
Sports For Champions events are held in support of schools, which keep 60% of the funds raised to spend on resources that will enrich young peoples education/experience. Professional athletes in need of support are the only other beneficiaries from the remaining 40%. Sports For Champions is an audited organisation that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Meaning you can support the initiative with assurance.
What will happen on the day?
During the assembly, Sports For Champions athletes show medals and tell their story, hard work, lessons, and insights shared to capture the imagination of all and inspire healthier active lifestyles. Athletes discuss challenges on the road to success, with resilience, nutrition, diet, and dedication forming key topics. Fitness is essential for every young person’s general wellbeing in physical and mental health. It is also proven to be a strong booster of learning potential or brain power. By inspiring children as champions of tomorrow, Sports For Champions envision young people developing in all walks of life as healthy, [pro] active community-minded participants in society.
Alongside Team Sports For Champions, athletes engage in invaluable work within local communities to support their training-related costs (e.g. physio/travel). Most world-class athletes train a rigorous 35hr week and struggle to find reliable work that fits their schedule. This is how the funds we raise enable athletes and your school/club to realise their potential. Many pro athletes are unsponsored, lose support, or cannot find it.
Sports For Champions offers schools the benefit of an additional funds to go towards resources/facilities, whilst helping athletes with the funds required to sustain their journey with a contribution towards training and competition fees, medical costs, equipment, and more.
Croftlands Infant School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Team GB Paralympic Nordic Skier Callum Deboys, on the 21st of October 2024 and we need your support!
The pupils will benefit from physical activity through our fitness circuit, an inspirational talk including medal display and a Q&A session.
Where does the money go?
When parents and guardians offer their support to a Sports for Champions UK (CIC) fundraising event, they are nurturing not only their children's immediate environments but also the bright futures of many rising athletes. Here is a breakdown of how your contributions make a significant difference:
For each fundraising event Sports For Champions looks to raise enough money to cover the costs that it takes to provide such an excellent service nationally. Once that goal is reached, surplus funds are allocated in a way that benefits both the school and our passionate athletes – 60% for the school’s continued growth and 40% contributing to the athlete fund.
At the core of the Sports For Champions UK (CIC) initiative is the Athlete Fund. Primarily, the fund aids schools in less economically privileged areas that might struggle with costs, ensuring that the administrative fee isn’t a barrier to vital opportunities. Additionally, it assists our dedicated athletes in moments of pressing need, whether it’s recovering from injuries, procuring advanced equipment, or embarking on warm-weather training camps. Our fundamental belief remains unwavering: no school should be compromised for its economic stance, and every promising athlete deserves a fair shot at excellence. Our commitment ensures no child or school is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
Challenges Athletes Face: Our partnering pro athletes and Team GB Olympians have a world of responsibilities on their shoulders. They juggle between a rigorous training schedule that demands over 35 hours a week and their personal commitments. This often leaves them with limited time and resources to focus on their careers, leading to financial constraints. Expenses for equipment, training, coaching, travel, and more pile up, making it a challenge for these athletes to perform at their best and represent Great Britain.
Why is this important?
Croftlands Infant School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Callum Deboys, this will be enhanced across all year groups and staff, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Croftlands Infant School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide new equipment, fund opportunities for the children, and more.
How can you help?
We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Team GB Paralympic Nordic Skier Callum Deboys, to raise funds for key resources for Croftlands Infant School.
If you are a local business or a friend of the school and would like to contribute to help us get to our target then please do make a donation and share our project as far as you can.