Panathlon Challenge

February 2012

• Mill Hill School raises £2,500 for Panathlon

  Posted: Friday 24th February 2012
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  Mill Hill School is delighted to announce an exciting new relationship with the Panathlon Challenge charity for 2012. In the last few weeks Mill Hill School has already raised £2,500 for Panathalon through various fundraising events; including a very successful “Mill Hill’s Got Talent” show.

  Mill Hill, London's leading co-educational day and boarding school for secondary school pupils, is supporting the Panathlon charity in their inspirational work to develop sporting competitions for young disabled people across the country.

  Mill Hill School is fundraising at various events throughout the year and monies raised will help Panathlon to supply specialist disability sports equipment and multi-sport competitions for disabled children, in their very own “mini-paralympics”. Panathlon organise over 50 competitions per year, providing sporting activities for over 2,500 severely disabled children.

  The partnership goes even further, as Panathlon has trained 25 Mill Hill School “Sports Leaders” in a range of disability sports. The newly acquired skills of these young leaders will be utilized in a major disability competition in May, held at none other than Stoke Mandeville - home of the Paralympics!
  
  Giles Long MBE, chair of the Panathlon Charity and triple Paralympic Gold Medalist said, “This is a fantastic example of how the Independent School Sector can support its local community and a charity which helps many disabled young people become active through sporting competition. Many thanks from all of us to our new friends at Mill Hill School.”

  Jane Sanchez, deputy head at Mill Hill School said, “Our Sports Leaders will benefit terrifically from officiating at a major disability sports competition such as the Panathlon Challenge. Our school is delighted to support such a worthy and inspiring charity.”

• London Stansted Airport announces its first ever charity partner of the year

  Posted: Tuesday 21st February 2012
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  The Panathlon Challenge will be the focus of London Stansted’s fundraising efforts for 2012 after being chosen as the airport’s inaugural charity partner of the year.

  The Essex based charity, which came top in a staff vote, works with local schools across the South East and organises sporting competitions for disabled youngsters. Holder of the coveted Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme*, the organisation also offers free training courses, supplies specialist equipment and provides qualified coaching and expertise.

  Danny Crates, Paralympic Gold Medallist from Essex and sporting patron of the Panathlon charity, said:

  "It is fantastic news that Stansted staff have chosen the Panathlon Challenge as their first ever charity partner. Panathlon provides Paralympic type sports competitions for young disabled people in Essex and London.

  “As a local charity based at Stansted, this partnership with the airport is truly exciting and I hope will help us provide more sports equipment, coaching and sports competitions for local disabled children in 2012. We will now work on a programme of activities at the airport and look forward to a great year working together.”

  The partnership will include a series of fundraising events in the terminal including a special mini Paralympic Games, and airport staff will be encouraged to get involved in volunteering projects.

  Marcella M’Rabety, Stansted Airport’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, added:

  “With the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games fast approaching, what better way to maximise the sporting legacy of the Games than getting our local young people involved in sport. We short-listed two sporting charities that work with both able bodied and disabled young people and put the vote to our staff.

  “The Panathlon Challenge topped the ballot and we’re delighted to welcome them as our first ever charity partner. This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us at Stansted to make a real difference and to showcase the dedication, support and commitment of the airport and its staff.”

  ENDS

  Notes to editors:
  

  Photograph: London Stansted and the Panathlon Challenge celebrated one year to go until the London 2012 Paralympic Games with a special event at the airport in September 2011.

  Caption: Essex Paralympic Champions, Dan Bentley (front row centre) from Great Dunmow and Danny Crates (back row right), teamed up to play children from Witham’s Southview School, Stansted Airport’s Operations Director, Martin Lyall (back row left) in the Paralympic Sport of Boccia at the terminal building.

  The Youth Sports Trust was the other charity considered for Stansted Airport’s first charity of the year.
  
  The airport has a number of community funds that provide grants to charitable causes for communities surrounding the airport. These are part of the on-going support and social responsibility activities that help the airport build bridges with the local community. The Panathlon Challenge is expected to provide a strong focus to the airport’s fundraising efforts for 2012.
  
  Panathlon was granted the Inspire Mark for its ground breaking work in developing football opportunities for visually impaired young people and Powerchair users, with the Wheelchair Football Association. The London 2012 Inspire programme is awarded for innovative and exceptional projects inspired by the Games. 
  
  Danny Crates has been the Panathlon Sporting Patron for three years. Danny Won gold in Athens in 2004 Paralympics at 800m and carried the GB team flag at the Opening Ceremony in Beijing in 2008.
  

• Croydon Storm to victory

  Posted: Wednesday 8th February 2012
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  Today Panathlon were in South London following yesterday’s Football event for the first of two regional competitions. Hosted by John Fisher School and involving their BTEC students as officials, schools from Bromley, Croydon and Sutton made up the teams.

  When going through the fixture list at the start of the season, the Croydon Vs Bromley clash is one people always look forward to, and today’s competition delivered on its promise. Everyone was impressed by the talent witnessed from all the teams, and accordingly this makes Croydon’s result, 10 points clear at the top of the leader board by the end of play, all the more impressive.

   Croydon’s run of form included golds in the Boccia, Table Cricket, Polybat and both Athletic disciplines. In Boccia they won all their matches, including scores of 8-1, 7-0, 7-0 (all 3 end matches). In table cricket they recorded this season’s highest score of 324, and also managed a surprising victory against Sutton, managing to score the required 24 runs from the last over. In the athletic races they did the clean sweep, winning Golds in all the races

  Bromley, having the gold in the football in the locker before the start of play today, didn’t manage to add to their Gold tally – though they provided tough opposition to the others teams and picked up four silvers. They were unlucky not to gain a 5th silver, coming third in the field athletics only on count back.

  Bromley and Sutton fought hard in the New Age Kurling and the competition went to last end. In the last match Sutton scored a huge 6-0 to win on aggregate points; as the 2 teams had tied on 3 wins a piece. Sutton also had some notable performances in the field athletics, particularly in the long jump. Sutton need to be commended on pushing Bromley so close, ending only 4 points behind them. This compares to 16 points behind last year and is an amazing improvement. Congratulations to their sports coaches & PE staff!

  The individual performances of the day included Jason Baty 2.06metre long jump (Sutton) and Temi Johnson’s maximum score in the Precision Bean Bag (Croydon). Both of these will go into the Panathlon Records for 2012.

  “Despite a chilly sports hall on a snow ridden day, the staff and students of Sherwood Park participated well and were welcomed by the staff and students of John Fisher. We even managed a gold medal or two! Thank you for this opportunity.”  Sherwood Park, Sutton.

• Wandsworth & Southwark through to Central Final

  Posted: Wednesday 1st February 2012
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  Wandsworth stormed to victory today at Southfields Community College, winning Boccia, Kurling, Football, Polybat and Athletics, and came second to Southwark in Table Cricket. This was an outstanding performance and made sure of their spot in the Central Final on March 21st.
  
  
  Nick Miller, Wandsworth team co-ordinator said, " we enjoyed a fantastic Panathlon event today, and we are delighted we have made the Final again. Four schools made up the Wandsworth team, Oak lodge, Linden Lodge, Greenmead and Paddock. We also had 12 young leaders here helping the Panathlon organisers, run the sports and they have done a fantastic job too."
  
  Wandsworth and Southwark go through to central Final on March 21st.