Parklands Primary School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Hope Gordon. Hope 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!
Parklands Primary School is proud to be a member of the Preston Hedges Trust. The driving vision is founded on the philosophy of ‘Fun, Creativity & Achievement’, ensuring that the school is a happy, safe place where children experience high quality teaching within an exciting and innovative curriculum; where creative, inquisitive and confident learners are nurtured, encouraged and thrive
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I used to swim competitively, but when my friend switched to canoeing and shared a talent post with me that mentioned the canoeing team were looking for new team members. It seemed like the perfect time to switch as I was getting tired of training indoors so I made the switch and I really enjoyed being a total beginner again! A lot of things were different such as training, which in some cases was a treat because when I was swimming I was up at quarter to five ready to train, but my new schedule allowed me to have a lie, which was a change for the better!
My Greatest Achievement
My greatest achievement has been pushing myself every day toward my goal and reaching the Beijing Winter Olympics. The adversity that life has thrown my way has built me into the person I am today and made me stronger mentally and physically.
My Greatest Challenge
My greatest challenge has been the perceptions of me as a young person with a disability, I have found that a lot of other people have difficulty understanding my condition and I would find that a lot of doctors would not take my views seriously and that my peers would comment that I was phishing for attention. The difficulty lay in that nobody else felt how I was feeling or could quantify it since my leg looked fine on the outside, but CRPS is a chronic pain condition meaning only I can describe how it feels, but this was taken with a grain of salt.
My Podcast
Check out my podcast to learn more about me and my career. Maybe it will inspire you to write some questions for me ahead of the event!
My Hobbies
Outside of training, I enjoy taking my dog out for walks and spending time with friends and family.
My Future goals
In the future, I am hoping to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics and compete in the Kayak and Va’a.
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.
Parklands Primary School will be receiving an inspirational visit from renowned Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Hope Gordon on the 24th 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?
Parklands Primary School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Hope Gordon, 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.
Parklands 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 Beijing 2021 Winter Olympian Hope Gordon and to raise funds for key resources for Parklands 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.