Oundle School Support

I've just got back from Oundle School, where I was interviewed by student journalists from The Oundelian, who plan to write a piece about me in this student run magazine. These pupils have far to go, good luck to them! I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to say!

It was lovely to see my tutor, Mrs Smedley and meet the Headmaster, Charles Bush. The school ethos of personality development and hard work doesn't seem to have changed. Oundle School certainly set me in good stead for life's challenges. It doesn't feel that long ago that I was there, running around with a hockey stick, or dressed in army uniform as a member of the Combined Cadet Force, building camps and polishing boots, trying to avoid getting caught breaking the rules (only the small and seemingly insignificant ones of course!).

The support I've received from the vast Oundle 'family' since becoming paralysed never ceases to surprise me. Sponsorship from both Mills and Reeve Law Firm and De Soutter Medical originated from Oundle roots. My old housemaster Mr Brittain and many fellow students have offered all sorts of support from friendly emails and donations to accommodation whilst I trained in the mountains. Lizzie Gent, Helen Barr, Caroline Bielby, Thorny and a great many others have been wonderfully supportive, thank you!

Deloitte and TASS Homecoming Celebration!

Racers Tim, Talan and I, and manager Dave, enjoyed a lovely 'Homecoming Celebration Evening' last night at the Deloitte Offices in London. Deloitte are sponsors of TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) whose funding was central in enabling me to race and train last year. It was great to meet the team backing us and to celebrate our team achievements at the Vancouver Paralympic Games: 4x top 8 finishes!

Deloitte Disability Sport - http://www.deloittelondon2012.co.uk/disability-sport

Talks and Presentation Award Ceremonies

Presented and won Sports Achievement Awards at Sport MK Awards this week (very exciting becoming a minor celebrity!)

Also did talks at two school events; the MK Playground to Podium Schools Event in Milton Keynes and Team Super Sports Challenge in Ridgeway School, Bedford with Larry Achike (men's triple jump - 7th in Beijing), he's predictably huge and very nice!

Sport is such a powerful medium through which to motivate and inspire young people. I sincerely hope the next government will encourage much more participation in sport in schools.

Keynskiers have been a great help with fundraising last year, and I enjoyed giving a presentation at their monthly meeting, a big thank you.

Also met and had lunch with Gail Emms at the David Lloyd Leisure Open day where I was demonstrating my monoski and talking about the Paralympics. I can't believe how many Olympic Champions I've met this week!

Young Leaders Programme

I started work as an Athlete Supporter on the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, London 2012 Young Leaders Programme, meeting the 100 Young Leaders. These 16 and 17 year olds have been chosen to take part in the scheme, to develop community volunteering projects, take part in an 18-month training programme designed to improve their communication and leadership skills.

The London 2012 Young Leaders Programme is designed to give a group of disadvantaged young people the chance to make positive change to their lives. The selected young leaders will then also have the opportunity to play a significant role in the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

I'm really excited to be involved in such an inspiring project. Also met Dame Kelly Holmes who is a real inspiration and amazing role model. I am still quite starstruck!