Panathlon Challenge

NEWS

June 2011

Woodland Delivers for Panathlon

Posted: Wednesday 29th June 2011
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Proving it delivers much more than freight, the Chelmsford based Woodland Group has become corporate sponsor of the Panathlon Challenge.

Woodland, one of the UK’s leading independent logistics providers, has agreed to provide substantial funding over the next two years, as well as access to professional services and Woodland’s infrastructure of UK offices and staff members.

Commenting on Woodland’s sponsorship, Ashley said: “Support like this is game-changing for a small charity and will enable us to recruit a full-time events manager.

“More importantly, the fund will provide a level of stability and a professional platform to help us develop our activities. The investment will mean we can help hundreds more disabled young people.”

Kevin Stevens, chairman and CEO of the Woodland Group, added: “Panathlon is a fantastic charity. We are delighted to help the charity grow in the lead up to the Paralympics and are confident that our efforts will make a real difference to this highly-regarded organisation.”

Picture below of Simon Youd from the Woodland Group with Team Newham, winners of the London Panathlon 2011
Hilton Stansted Goes Around the World for Panathlon

Posted: Tuesday 21st June 2011
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On June 26^th Panathlon joined up with Hilton Hotel at Stansted Airport and took part in the Hilton Foundation “Around the World in a Day” challenge at Stansted Airport. Teams ran, walked, biked and rowed 810 miles, and raising several thousand pounds in aid of the Panathlon Challenge in Essex.

We managed to recruit help from Team GB Slalom & Sprint Canoe Teams and also the GB Deaf Football team who were passing through Stansted and offered to help out !

Many thanks to all involved !
To see the Hilton / Panathlon film, please click here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zymyOzUGk

Donations please to -http://www.justgiving.com/awdstansted-panathlon/

Hilton London Stansted Airport and Hilton in the Community Foundation are attempting to Go “Around the World in a Day” for Charity this Summer in aid of the Panathlon Charity !

As part of Hilton in the Community Foundation’s annual summer charity challenge “Around the World in a Day” participants will be aiming to raise as much sponsorship as possible by covering miles on Precor cardiovascular fitness machines stationed by Airport Security. There will be two teams from the hotel and two from the Metropolitan Police competing on the equipment from 7am until 4pm tempting flight passengers with collection buckets for Panathlon.

All proceeds raised from this year’s challenge, which will take place in Stansted Airport itself, will be donated to the Panathlon Challenge which, through charitable donations is able to offer free training courses, specialist equipment supply, coaching funds and multi-sport competitions, in various towns around Essex. Young disabled people with a range of abilities come together and are able to compete in different sports.

The fundraiser in Stansted is part of a continental wide challenge organised by Hilton in the Community Foundation, the official charity of Hilton Worldwide in Europe. Hotel team members, charity partners and the public will all be working together on the day across more than 100 hotels in eight countries. They will collectively attempt to virtually travel 24,901.55 miles, the circumference of the earth, all in aid of charities supporting ill and disadvantaged children and young adults, chosen by each hotel.

According to Robert Watts, general manager Hilton London Stansted, this year’s event is an opportunity for the community to get together in support of a very good cause. Mr Watts said, “Our community work is an important part of our hospitality philosophy and our team is very excited to be working together to support Panathlon. Hopefully those passengers setting off on flights going around the world will appreciate our effort in trying to get there on treadmills and rowing machines!”

Ashley Iceton from Panathlon said: “The Panathlon Challenge is delighted to be working with Hilton in the Community Foundation and Around the World in a Day. The Panathlon Challenge benefits hundreds of disabled young people in Essex and thousands more around the country. Every penny raised through Around the World in a Day, will get invested back in to specialised sports equipment for local Essex Schools and young disabled people.”

To find out more or to make a donation to Panathlon please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/AWDstansted-panathlon

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About Hilton in the Community Foundation:

Hilton in the Community Foundation was founded in 2000 as Hilton Worldwide's charity vehicle in Europe dedicated to supporting young people in need by combating exclusion and providing skills, aspirations and opportunities. Focussed on improving access to, and the quality of, education and healthcare, the Foundation mobilises local giving and targets four key areas: disabled children, children in hospitals, children's hospices and homelessness. Grants help vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Europe, while in the event of international disaster grants are made to relief organisations addressing young people's needs.

The Foundation's core costs are funded by Hilton Worldwide, so every net pound/euro raised goes directly to good causes. Donations are funded almost entirely through the generous efforts and contributions of team members, family and friends and with the support of guests and company suppliers. Since its establishment in November 2000 the Foundation has raised over £9 million for charity.

To find out more please visit our website: www.hilton-foundation.org.uk

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 92 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,600 hotels and 600,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
Newham London Champions 2011

Posted: Thursday 16th June 2011
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Breaking News ! Newham Become Champions 2011

Thirty Teams set off 6 months ago with the aim of getting to the Final. The 5 Finalists had battled through and were winners of regional heats, but only one could be London Champion 2011
The Finallists were, from Haringey, Harrow, Lambeth, Newham and Croydon, competed at the Westway Sports Centre on Thursday 16 June to see battle commence. They were joined by 2 Paralympian stars who were there to lend their support. A fantastic day of intense sporting competition followed and when it was all over the Newham champions had edged ahead of nearest rivals Harrow by 4 points to become Panathlon Champions of London 2011. Croydon finished third, followed by Lambeth and Haringey.

250 athletes with severe learning difficulties and/or physical impairments, aged between 8 and 18, competed in the sports of Boccia, New Age Kurling, Football, Polybat, Table Cricket and Athletics for the honour of being crowned Panathlon Champions 2011. Over 1,000 young disabled people from 30 teams, set out in January with the aim of getting to this final.

Helen Turner, and Louise Sugden, Paralympic World Cup Gold Medallists (Wheelchair Gold Medalists) in Manchester in May, attended the event to encourage the competitors and award medals. They were joined by Kate Hoey, London’s Commissioner for Sport.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, through the Sports Legacy Plan, is supporting Panathlon with £86,000 in 2011 and the same amount next year. This will mean that in the three years in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, he will have invested £255,000 in developing grass roots disability sport in London, through Panathlon. He said: "It is fantastic to see the Panathlon Challenge going from strength to strength every year, helping to inspire young people to get involved in sport. Grass roots competitions such as this are crucial if we are to achieve our goal of building a lasting sporting legacy in the capital from the 2012 Games. My Sports Legacy Fund was established to support exactly this kind of event."

The Panathlon Challenge is now in its tenth successful year of delivering sporting opportunities and “mini-paralympic” type competitions for young disabled Londoners. This year over 1,500 participants have benefitted from Panathlon coaching, with 1,000 of those going on to represent their borough in the competition.

There was also a mini-competition of Powerchair Football involving 20 severely disabled young people in a ground breaking project with the Wheelchair Football Association and Brentford FC Community Trust. Panathlon supported by the Football Foundation, have created five Powerchair Football clubs in London supported with specialist equipment and coaching.

Additionally there was a demonstration game by visually impaired footballlers. Panathlon has been granted the Inspire Mark, the official badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme for this work.

Panathlon’s work in creating football opportunities over the next two years for visually impaired footballers is one example of inspiration fired by the 2012 Paralympics. Panathlon plans to follow its successful model in developing Powerchair football, and create 5 clubs across London with coaching and competitive opportunities for visually impaired footballers.

Trudy Kilcullen, Chief Operations Officer for The Jack Petchey Foundation, which is investing £50,000 in Panathlon in London and Essex in 2011, said. “ We believe that all young people should have the opportunity to achieve their potential. Panathlon is the only organisation that enables young disabled people to participate fully in competitive sports designed to suit their needs. We fully support their work and look forward to seeing even more disabled young people becoming coaches and sports leaders in the future.”

Paul Thorogood , Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Panathlon does outstanding work in opening up a wide range of sports to our capital’s d isabled young people. The Football Foundation’s funding has enabled Panathlon to provide football for around 500 footballers with severe learning difficulties and 50 Powerchair footballers from five newly created Panathlon clubs across London this year.”

Danny Crates, Paralympic Champion and Panathlon charity patron said: “ Panathlon is a fantastic opportunity for young disabled Londoners to take part in sporting competition and I wish them well in their search for medals.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Panathlon Challenge has been delivering competitive opportunities for young disabled Londoners since 1999. It has invested £250,000 in sports equipment and coaching funds in 30 London Boroughs in 2011 and expand to all 32 London Boroughs by 2012. Panathlon will also be working in Essex, Kent, Liverpool and other cities during 2011, involving around 2,500 disabled young people.

Play Sport London , as part of the Mayor's 'A Sporting Future for London' plan, aims to provide free sporting opportunities to Londoners. The Play Sport London programme provides grant funding to sports clubs and community groups in order to encourage greater participation in sport in the build up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Panathlon is offered £172,000 over the next two years from the Mayors Sports Participation Fund. For more information please visit http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/sport/funding-projects/playsport

The Football Foundation is providing Panathlon with £242,000 between 2009 and 2011. The Football Foundation is the country's largest sports charity funded by the Premier League, The FA and Government. Since it was launched in 2000 the Foundation has funded 178 sports projects for disabled people worth £13m. For more information visit 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. In the last 10 years, in excess of £65 million has been given to a wide range of organisations and schools. http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk
Panathlon Final June 16th !

Posted: Wednesday 15th June 2011
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The Final of the London Panathlon is nearly upon us ! After 6 months of training and competition, clocking up 10,000 active hours of participation by over 1,000 disabled yonng people - we are down to the Final 5 teams who compete on June 16th, to see who will be crowned Panathlon Champions 2011.

The 5 finalists are – Lambeth, Harrow, Haringey, Croydon and Newham. Each team won through 2 qualifying events earlier in the year, and now face this final hurdle to become All London Panathlon champions 2011. And to add spice to the occasion all the finalists have been there before! However, the only previous winners are Croydon who had a double success in 2005 and 2006. So, plenty of incentives for every team to go for the big win this year and surely a real cocktail for top sporting competition!
200+ athletes with severe learning difficulties and/or physical impairments, aged between 8 and 18, will compete in the sports of Boccia, New Age Kurling, Football, Polybat, Table Cricket and Athletics for the honour of being crowned Panathlon Champions 2011.

Helen Turner, GB Gold Medallist from last months Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in Wheelchair Basketball, will be attending the event to encourage the competitors and award medals.

The Mayor of London, through the Sports Legacy Plan, is supporting Panathlon with £86,000 in 2011 and the same amount next year. This will mean that in the three years in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, he will have invested £255,000 in developing grass roots disability sport in London, through Panathlon. Boris Johnson said, ' The Panathlon Challenge is a fantastic competition. It is about taking part, aspiration and achievement, three of the best motivators for young people."

The Panathlon Challenge is now in its tenth successful year of delivering sporting opportunities and “mini-paralympic” type competitions for young disabled Londoners. This year around 1,000 participants have been involved.

There will also be a mini-competition of Powerchair Football for severely disabled young people in a ground breaking project with the Wheelchair Football Association and Brentford FC Community Trust. Panathlon supported by the Football Foundation, have created five Powerchair Football clubs in London supported with specialist equipment and coaching.

Additionally there will be a demonstration game by visually impaired footballlers. Panathlon has been granted the Inspire Mark, the official badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme for this work.

Panathlon’s work in creating football opportunities over the next two years for visually impaired footballers is one example of inspiration fired by the 2012 Paralympics. Panathlon plans to follow its successful model in developing Powerchair football, and create 5 clubs across London with coaching and competitive opportunities for visually impaired footballers.

Sainsbury’s are kindly supplying Goody Bags from the Ladbrooke Grove store for all 200 competitors.

Trudy Kilcullen, Chief Operations Officer for The Jack Petchey Foundation, which is investing £50,000 in Panathlon in London and Essex in 2011, said. “ We believe that all young people should have the opportunity to achieve their potential. Panathlon is the only organisation that enables young disabled people to participate fully in competitive sports designed to suit their needs. We fully support their work and look forward to seeing even more disabled young people becoming coaches and sports leaders in the future.”

Paul Thorogood , Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Panathlon does outstanding work in opening up a wide range of sports to our capital’s d isabled young people. The Football Foundation’s funding has enabled Panathlon to provide football for around 500 footballers with severe learning difficulties and 50 Powerchair footballers from five newly created Panathlon clubs across London this year.”

Danny Crates, Paralympic Champion and Panathlon charity patron said: “ Panathlon is a fantastic opportunity for young disabled Londoners to take part in sporting competition and I wish them well in their search for medals.”
Boccia Young Officials Qualified

Posted: Friday 10th June 2011
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Panathlon and Boccia England successfully today delivered a Boccia Young Officials course at Oak Lodge School in Wandsworth. What made the course ground breaking was the fact that 10 of the 12 participants were deaf or hearing impaired. This challenged us and Boccia England to deliver this course in an adaptive and unique way.

The course went extremely well and Panathlon will now work with these young officials and offer them practical work experience, which will enable them to utilise their new qualifications and skills, out there in the "real world". Well done to all involved ! (see the blog section for some vide action !)