NEWS

September 2011

  • Panathlon Checks in for support at Hilton London Stansted

    Posted: Thursday 29th September 2011
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    Children from Southview School were welcomed by team members at Hilton London Stansted Airport hotel as part of a charity presentation to the Panathlon Foundation.

    The pupils from Southview School in Witham, a day special school for physically and neurologically impaired learners, took part in Panathlon’s latest sporting challenge event, held at London Stansted Airport terminal this morning. They then received lunch at the hotel as part of the hotel team’s ongoing support for Panathlon through their Hilton in the Community Foundation work.


    Panathlon received more than just lunch on the day however. They were also presented with a cheque for £4,984.70 to benefit hundreds of disabled young people in Essex and thousands more around the country. The money has been raised by Hilton staff, local schools and Panathlon supporters as part of an annual summer fundraiser organised by Hilton in the Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Hilton Worldwide in Europe. The event saw participants raise sponsored funds by taking part in a day of fitness challenges.

    According to Robert Watts, general manager Hilton London Stansted, the presentation is the culmination of a real team effort at the hotel. He said: “Our community work is an important part of our hospitality philosophy and our team is thrilled to be able to support Panathlon as a result. Giving these young people the opportunities to show their talents and skills is the best possible way for us to show our support for them.”

    Panathlon offers 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.

    Ashley Iceton from Panathlon said:

    "It is fantastic that Hilton in the Community Foundation and the Hilton London Stansted team are supporting Panathlon in Essex again in 2011/12. This means many more young disabled people will be able to receive adapted sports equipment and compete within the Panathlon Challenge in the year ahead.”

    Danny Crates said, “Panathlon Challenge is a fantastic competition for young disabled people, and I’ve witnessed the enthusiasm and skills of the competitors first-hand. It is going to be a great twelve months of inspiring sporting action with the London 2012 Games coming. It’s great to see local disabled children competing in their own type of “Paralympic Games” through the Panathlon Challenge.”

  • Panathlon and London Stansted Celebrate one year to go to the Paralympics

    Posted: Tuesday 20th September 2011
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    The Panathlon Challenge charity celebrated one year to go to the Paralympic Games, with local Essex gold medal winning Paralympians and local school children at London Stansted Airport today (23rd September).

    Dan Bentley and Danny Crates, both Paralympic Gold Medalists from Essex, played local disabled children from Southview School, in the Paralympic Sport of Boccia at the Airport terminal.

    The Panathlon Challenge is now in its twelfth successful year of delivering sporting opportunities and “mini-paralympic” type competitions for young disabled people. This year over 2,500 participants have benefitted from Panathlon coaching, equipment provision and competitions.

    Danny Crates is the sporting patron of the Panathlon charity and said , “ Panathlon Challenge is a fantastic competition for young disabled people, and I’ve witnessed the enthusiasm and skills of the competitors first-hand. It is going to be a great twelve months of inspiring sporting action with the London 2012 Games coming. It’s great to see local disabled children competing in their own type of “Paralympic Games” through the Panathlon Challenge.”

    Nick Barton , London Stansted’s managing director, added: “London Stansted is delighted to be able support the Panathlon Challenge and showcase the sport of Boccia at the airport.   The event will give our passengers and staff the perfect opportunity to interact with the athletes and children from Essex’s Southview School, learn about the sport and see for themselves why this is such a wonderful event.”

    Euro MP Richard Howitt who is President of the European Parliament All Party Disability Group, attended and took part in a few games of Boccia.  He said: “As a disability campaigner I am passionate about giving disabled youngsters a sporting chance. I am delighted to support this event and talk to local disabled children who despite the hurdles they face are ready to dive in and have a go at a new sport.”

    Panathlon has already been granted the Inspire Mark , the official badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme for its ground breaking work in developing football opportunities for visually impaired young people and Powerchair users, with the Wheelchair Football Association.

    Panathlon aims to raise £400,000 in the year ahead to fund its work, providing severely disabled young people with adapted sports equipment and 50 sports events around the country.


    ENDS

    ·          Panathlon Challenge has been delivering competitive opportunities for young disabled people since 1999. It has invested over £1m during that time in sports equipment, coaching funds and multi-sports competitions in Essex, Kent, London, Liverpool, Wiltshire and other areas. In 2012 it will benefit over 2,500 disabled young people across the country.

    ·          Southview School in Witham compete have competed in Panathlon for 3 years and will be bringing their Boccia Team to take on the local Paralympic Gold Medalist.

    ·          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.

    ·          Dan Bentley won a team Gold in Boccia in Beijing in 2008 and will hopefully be defending his title in London 2012

    ·          The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, through the Sports Legacy Plan, is supporting Panathlon with £255,000 investment in the three years before the Olympics and Paralympic Games. 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."

    ·          Giles Long MBE (and triple Gold medal winning Paralympian) is the Chair of the Panathlon Charity. He said, “ Panathlon Challenge is a fantastic competition for young disabled people, and I’ve witnessed the enthusiasm and skills of the competitors first-hand. It is going to be a fantastic twelve months of inspiring sporting action with the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London. I look forward to helping Panathlon develop over the coming year .

    ·          Panathlon Challenge involves the sports of Football, Athletics, Polybat, Table Cricket, Boccia and Kurling and involves disabled children (severe Learning difficulties, physical impairments, deaf and visually impaired) aged between 5 and 19. www.panathlon.com        

    ·          Panathlon is supported financially by the Mayor of London, Jack Petchey Foundation, Hilton Foundation, St. James’s Place Foundation and various other trusts and charities.                   

    ·          Panathlon’s key commercial partner is Woodland Group - http://www.woodland-group.com/site/home

    Enquiries to - Ashley Iceton, Panathlon Challenge, 01279 680980 or ashley@panathlon.com

    ·          Stansted Airport Press Office, 01279 680534 or stanstedmediacentre@baa.com

  • Giles Long becomes Panathlon Chair-person

    Posted: Thursday 15th September 2011
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    Giles Long MBE, triple Paralympic Gold Medallist has been welcomed as the new Chair of the Panathlon Foundation, the charity that operates the Panathlon Challenge.

    The Panathlon Challenge is now in its twelfth successful year of delivering sporting opportunities and “mini-paralympic” type competitions for young disabled people. This year over 2,500 participants have benefitted from Panathlon coaching, equipment provision and competitions.

    Giles said, “ Panathlon Challenge is a fantastic competition for young disabled people, and I’ve witnessed the enthusiasm and skills of the competitors first-hand. It is going to be a fantastic twelve months of inspiring sporting action with the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London. I look forward to helping Panathlon develop over the coming year. “

    Outgoing Chair, John Hymers, who is retiring after fourteen years in the role, welcomed the new appointment saying, “ Giles will make a fantastic contribution to the Panathlon charity. He is someone who has been to three Paralympic Games and understands what it is like to start at the grass roots, and make it to the pinnacle of his sport. I wish him well.”

    Giles has won 7 Paralympic swimming medals, 3 of them Gold and he will present coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, broadcast on Channel 4 next August & September.

    Panathlon has already been granted the Inspire Mark, the official badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme for its ground breaking work in developing football opportunities for visually impaired young people and Powerchair users, with the Wheelchair Football Association.

    Panathlon is aiming to raise £400,000 in the year ahead to fund its work, providing severely disabled young people with adapted sports equipment and 50 sports events around the country.