Gwynedd Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Team GB Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green. Rebekah 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!
Gwynedd Primary School's aim is to provide a pleasant, happy and secure environment where our children are encouraged to develop as individuals whilst being sensitive to the needs of others.
Who's Coming?
How I Started
Around the age of 10, my mum (while she was marathon training) and I used to run and cycle around Lee valley white water centre, watching the slalom athletes train for the 2012 Olympics. I told her how I’d love, one day, to give it a try and she encouraged me to go speak to one of the coaches, who informed us of a club that paddles on a Wednesday night. Fast forward a few weeks and I had joined Lee Valley Paddlesports club for my first experience in a slalom kayak on the lake. A couple of months later the coach was unable to continue, so I joined a group of girls who played games and enjoyed flat water activities, although I was determined to get on the white water. My first experience of white-water paddling came from a group that needed an extra paddler on their raft. I rafted with them regularly for a few months until they began training to compete in the upcoming world championships, for which I was a couple of years too young. Persistent in my desire to paddle on the course, I returned to the club, spoke to the coaches, and was told to come back in a month (after the Christmas break) and they would have someone for me. As expected, come January, a coach was available, who happened to be an avid freestyler (a discipline I previously hadn’t thought much of). After learning to roll and getting assessed to paddle unsupervised on the lee valley watercourse, I began my obsession with freestyle kayaking.
My Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement in freestyle kayaking would have to be the first time I made the GB team. Although I have won a few open competitions and was on the podium at the British championships, the excitement following my first successful selections brought emotions of accomplishment and yet anticipation for the next year. As a junior girl, having barely made a mark in the competitive world, and scoring zero in my first selections, making the team was an incredible experience. Coming off the water after my 45-second rides, I felt strong. I could feel the improvement following the past few months of training and looking at score sheets with my name in that spot was an insane relief.
My Greatest Challenge
My greatest challenge came in the months following my parents’ separation in 2018. My dad moved to Oxford, leaving my mum to look after me and my 3 sisters. As the only kayaker in the family and dependant on lifts to get to training and competitions, it became both practically and financially challenging to get on the water. Wednesdays became a hassle, as my mum juggled taking me to paddle and my sisters to their various activities. Desperate to progress and train for selections, as soon as I was 16, I started working at the kayak shop at Lee Valley. This gave me free access to the water and the opportunity to afford better equipment while learning more about the sport through customer communication.
My Hobbies
Outside of kayaking, I love to sing and play the guitar, as well as running Parkruns and recently I’ve started bouldering in various indoor locations around North London. Some of my favourite foods include apples and Percy pigs, although, my Achilles heel is carrot cake.
My Future goals
My future goals include making the team for both C1 and K1 disciplines, competing at the next few world championships, and getting on the podium one day. I’d love to put down a competition ride that I am proud of. A ride where I score the moves, I know I can. However, a goal without a plan is just a wish! So, I plan to keep training, continue learning and grow as an athlete in this ever-expanding sport.
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.
Gwynedd Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Team GB Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green, on the the 4th 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?
Gwynedd Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Rebekah Green, 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.
Gwynedd 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 Freestyle Kayaker Rebekah Green, to raise funds for key resources for Gwynedd 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.