Gillibrand Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Team GB Skier Isla Ward. Isla 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 Gillibrand Primary School they encourage their children to be happy, to be confident and to believe that they can succeed.
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I started Skiing on family holidays around the age of three, but I began racing on the dry ski slope in Glasgow, we then transitioned to racing on slopes abroad in the English Championships in Italy, which is England, Wales and Scotland competing against each other for the British title.
My Greatest Achievement
My most outstanding achievement is winning the NJR which is the National Junior Race, this was being held in Bielmonte. This was my first win under the International Skiing Federation. This is where the senior bracket of the sport begins as you start competing against long-time pros and world cup athletes. The race is structured with two runs, whoever places the fastest time within the first run starts last in the second run, and this was the first time I had been able to retain my position in first after placing there in the first run. This is a massive disadvantage as the track is more weathered meaning it is bumpier and the surface is generally harder to ski on. I remember feeling relieved after being able to hold the position but also joyful as I had also won my first international race!
My Greatest Challenge
The greatest challenge I have faced is recovering from a concussion I suffered in a Giant Slalom in which I went off-piste, through the netting and crashed into the snow. It was a fairly big crash, but I was lucky to have come out with only a concussion, however, this lead to a post-concussion syndrome which caused me to have dizzy spells and nausea at any point in the day. I recovered from this concussion and came back to race but something was off as I was struck with the same dizzy feeling and nausea. I was then advised to stop skiing and restart the healing process as I would normally if I were to have been concussed again.
My Hobbies
My hobbies are unicycling and juggling, I began juggling because a balancing coordination coach had mentioned that juggling can calm nerves and create a focused environment, so I then began juggling before each race! My favourite meals are usually a chicken stir fry and fruit smoothies paired with protein powder etc. after a session I usually like to make a peanut butter and banana smoothie after training as it offers good proteins and fats.
My Future goals
My future aspirations are to reach and medal in the World Cup and Olympics.
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.
Gillibrand Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Team GB Skier Isla Ward, on the the 18th of June 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?
Gillibrand Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Isla Ward, 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.
Gillibrand Primary 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 Skier Isla Ward, to raise funds for key resources for Gillibrand Primary 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.