Panathlon Challenge

June 2009

• Barking & Dagenham New London Champions

  Posted: Friday 26th June 2009
  Category:

  In one of the most exciting Panathlon Challenge finals in many years, 3 teams, Barking and Dagenham, Liko Team Newham and Bromley, fought it out to the last race to decide which would emerge as champions in 2009.
  
  The judges spent some anxious moments before declaring that Barking and Dagenham had narrowly beaten their main rivals to become champions. They amassed the impressive total of 62 points, closely followed by Newham on 58 and Bromley on 56. Giles Long MBE, multi-medalist from the Paralympic Games was on hand to encourage the athletes and award medals to all the winners.
  
  The event took place at the Westway Sports Centre London W10 on 25 June. Six teams took part, having won through to the final from preliminary rounds earlier in the year. The other teams were from, Brent who came 4th, Wandsworth 5th and Waltham Forest 6th.
  
  150 disabled athletes aged between 8 and 18 took part, roughly 25 representing each of the participating boroughs. The event was attended by a healthy crowd, who thrilled to the performances of the young athletes. 5 sports were competed for during the exciting days competition, which is like a mini - “Paralympics” in one day and the culmination of 6 months coaching and preparation by all the teams.
  
  Ashley Iceton the event organiser said “We always get top class performances from our young athletes at the London finals but today has been the closest ever finish. All credit to the teams and the coaching staff for giving us such a memorable day. We are used to going down to the last race but today was exceptional, Congratulations to everyone taking part and winning medals today.”
  The event this year was generously funded by the Football Foundation, the Jack Petchey Foundation and the Peter Harrison Foundation, who all support the Panathlon charity. Additionally the Liko Team Newham team have been supported with a unique sporting club paid for by Liko UK Ltd, which has enabled many more disabled youngsters in the Borough of Newham the chance to be involved in the Panathlon Challenge in 2009.
  
  The event will recommence early in 2010.
  - ENDS -
  
  NOTES TO EDITORS
  • Panathlon Challenge has been delivering competitive opportunities for young people in various cities, including London, Liverpool and Plymouth since 1996. Panathlon now concentrates its fundraising and work for young people with disabilities. It has already involved around 2,500 young people during 2009 including expansion to the counties of Essex and Kent. Panathlon Challenge delivered training days, free sports equipment and coaching funds across 24 London Boroughs in 2009.
  
  • The Panathlon Foundation Charity (1072638) is funded this year by the Football Foundation, Jack Petchey Foundation, Peter Harrison Foundation and various trusts and charities.
  
  • The Football Foundation will provide Panathlon £242,000 over the next three years to enable expansion of the project to every London Borough. The Football Foundation is the UK's largest sports charity funded by the Premier League, The FA, Sport England and the Government. Its mission is to improve facilities, create opportunities and build communities throughout England. As the country’s largest funder of grass roots football, the Foundation has delivered thousands of facility and community projects, Its unique partnership with the Premier League, The FA, Sport England and the Government, each of whom invest £15m every year, ensures it delivers funding at grass roots level. www.footballfoundation.org.uk
  
  • The Jack Petchey Foundation was established in 1999 and gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society. The Foundation focuses on London and Essex. Since it has been established the Foundation has awarded grants totalling over £50million. http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk
  
  • Liko (UK) Ltd., one of the leading suppliers of patient lifts and slings for care staff & physically disabled patients, is investing £3,000 in the Panathlon Challenge in 2009. www.liko.co.uk
  
  • Dame Tanni Grey -Thompson, one of the UK’s most distinguished athletes of all time, winner of 11 Paralympic gold medals and holder of 30 world records, and also a strong supporter of the Panathlon Challenge says “Panathlon is striving to give everyone a chance to participate, regardless of ability and that is something I applaud. Good luck to everyone taking part in the Panathlon Challenge this year.”
  
  • Further details about Panathlon Challenge can be obtained from www.panathlon.com
  
  Enquiries to -
  • Ashley Iceton, Panathlon Challenge, 01277 373580 or Ashley@panathlon.com
  • John Hymers, Spot on Marketing & Communications- 01704 533197 or hymers2@btinternet.com

• Lakeside Shopping Centre supports local Special School

  Posted: Monday 22nd June 2009
  Category:

  
  Lakeside shopping centre is supporting local disabled children in Thurrock through an investment of new sports equipment for Beacon Hill School in South Ockendon.
  
  A presentation of this new sports equipment will take place at Lakeside Shopping centre on Monday June 22nd at 2pm in the central atrium. This will be followed by a coaching session in several sports with their new equipment by students at Beacon Hill school.
  
  Lakeside Shopping Centre are additionally supporting the local school by enabling many more coaching sessions in various sports to take place over the summer and for the entry of Beacon Hill School in to the Panathlon Challenge; a competitive multi sports event, similar to a mini Paralympic games, for disabled young people.
  
  This year, across the country, the Panathlon Challenge will involve over 2,500 young disabled sportsmen and women in a series of competitive sporting events, all being rewarded with medals and trophies. Events will take place in London, Liverpool, Plymouth, Kent and, new for 2009, Essex.
  
  Sophie Scott, Marketing Manager for Lakeside said, “We are delighted to be supporting Beacon Hill School and the young disabled people in Thurrock. We hope they get many hours of enjoyment and fun out of their new sports kit !!. I wish Team Lakeside Thurrock good luck in their Panathlon Challenge competition against the other teams in Essex”
  
  Brandon Mullin from Beacon Hill School said, “ Many thanks to Lakeside for enabling us to compete in the Panathlon Challenge this year, and for the fantastic free sports equipment - the kids love it !”
  
  For further information on Panathlon Challenge, please go to www.panathlon.com
  
  NOTES TO EDITORS
  • Panathlon Challenge has been delivering competitive opportunities for young people in various cities, including London, Liverpool and Bristol since 1996. Panathlon now concentrates its fundraising work for young people with disabilities. It will involve around 2,500 young people during 2009 and this year will involve expansion to the counties of Essex and Kent.
  
  • Panathlon Challenge will be delivering training days, free sports equipment and coaching funds in London, Essex, Kent, and Liverpool in 2009. First Round competitions will take place before Easter and the Finals will be in the summer.
  
  • Liberty International PLC is one of the UK’s largest listed property companies and a constituent of the FTSE-100 Index of the UK’s leading listed companies. Liberty International converted into a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) on 1 January 2007. Liberty International owns 100 per cent of Capital Shopping Centres (“CSC”), the premier UK regional shopping centre business. Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock, Essex is the flagship shopping centre in the company’s portfolio. For further information on Liberty International Corporate Responsibility projects please visit http://www.liberty-international.co.uk/cr
  
  • Lakeside is open from 10am ‘til 10pm weekdays, Saturday 9am – 9pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm. The Boardwalk is a new leisure area at Lakeside Shopping Centre bringing you a host of restaurants, plus a revolutionary new concept Vue cinema. Lakeside Shopping Centre and the adjoining Retail Park form one of the largest shopping areas in Europe. Over 20% of the UK population live within a 1 hour drive of Lakeside. Lakeside Shopping Centre is part of the Capital Shopping Centres portfolio
  
  • The Panathlon Foundation Charity (1072638) is funded by a variety of sources including the Football Foundation, Jack Petchey Foundation and BBC Children in Need.
  
  • Dame Tanni Grey -Thompson, one of the UK’s most distinguished athletes of all time, winner of 11 Paralympic gold medals and holder of 30 world records, and also a strong supporter of the Panathlon Challenge says “Panathlon is striving to give everyone a chance to participate, regardless of ability and that is something I applaud. Good luck to everyone taking part in Panathlon this year.”
  
  • Further details about Panathlon Challenge can be obtained from www.panathlon.com
  
  Enquiries to -
  Ashley Iceton, Panathlon Challenge, 01277 373580 or Ashley@panathlon.com
  Sophie Scott, Lakeside 01708 860087 or sophie-scott@capshop.co.uk

• London Football Final

  Posted: Friday 19th June 2009
  Category:

  Bromley looked to retain their overall Panathlon Champions status, with winning the first ever Football Final within Panathlon. A great day of football saw 80 footballers from 6 boroughs form 12 squads of enthusiastic players at Westway Sports Centre. Waltham Forest won the Boys U-16 competition, with Bromley 2nd and Bromley won the U-13 mixed competition with Waltham Forest in 2nd, but Bromlay edged the final overall winner, on goal difference. Newham came in 3rd, Wandsworth were 4th, Brent 5th overall and Barking & Dagenham on their first Panathlon Final, came in 6th place.