Warwick Diva Team Brave Hot Coals

Diva Hair have been a huge support to me since I moved to Warwick, but their community spirit doesn't end there. Last week the team walked over coals heated to 800 degrees celcius, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Myton Hospice and the Philippine Community Fund.

People call me crazy for racing down mountains at 70mph - that's nothing in comparison!

With funding cuts, continuing to pursue my goal of winning medals in the 2014 Paralypmics is becoming increasingly tough, and makes support I receive from sponsors like Diva more important than ever.

Leamington Observer wrote a lovely article earlier this year. Many thanks!

Professional Development

It’s also been a busy month in terms of career development…

I started with the Athletes Direct Seminar on the delivery of talks in schools, led by Brett Taylor. Great ideas from my teammate and x-teacher, Talan Skeels-Piggins, and golfer, Louise Davis. The British Olympic Association run the Athlete’s Direct scheme through which schools can apply for high achieving sportspeople to give talks and workshops to pupils. It has given me a good deal of invaluable speaking experience.

This was followed with some exceptional Presentation Skills training at The Media Group, Nottingham. Alongside other Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust Athletes, I spent a very productive morning being filmed, discussing and learning skills from Keith Daniell who has had many years experience as a TV presenter, speaker and trainer. I have since been practising and am looking forward to putting my new skills to test!

Also had fantastic training at last weeks’ Sporting Champions Recruitment and Training Day in Birmingham. Picked up lots of useful tips on leading sessions and workshops with young people from Tim and Emma of DKH Legacy Trust, as well as numerous experienced and talented athlete mentors including Neil Danns (Brit and European Skateboarding Champ) and Sara McGreavy (GB hurdler).

And squeezed in time for my first wedding dress fitting (very exciting). Plans are finally coming together!

Yesterday’s National Citizens Service development day for the ‘Summer of a Lifetime’ was also really useful. Here’s to getting stuck in and making a difference in a few lives! . They say you should learn from the best and I certainly have been given the opportunities to. Many thanks to the DKH Legacy Trust National Support Programme, The Media Group and the BOA.

Launch of the ‘Summer of a Lifetime’ at House of Lords

Earlier this month, the National Citizens Service ‘Summer of a Lifetime’ project was launched in the House of Lords. The 'Summer of a Lifetime' project enables 16 to 24 year old school leavers to develop life skills through a series of active and exciting outdoor challenges away from home.

Participants will plan, design and deliver social action projects within their local community.

The project Launch was presented by two young people, Mo Ahmet and Matt Hutchins (17), who interviewed Project coordinators as well as other young leaders, myself, athlete Jenna Downing and Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson in front of 200 people.

The most rewarding aspect of work as a mentor is seeing young people progress and having worked on the 2012 Young Leaders project with Matt and Tanya (in photo), I was seriously impressed.

(Photo left: with Nenna Chuku, programme coordinator for DKH Legacy Trust at the Launch; Right: with 2012 Young Leader Tanya)

My role as Midlands Team Leader is to work with City of Wolverhampton College and Stoke on Trent YMCA to facilitate elite athletes to 'create chances for young people'. Athletes will motivate and enable the young adults to develop valuable skills such as teamwork, problem solving, leadership and communication, working alongside v.



11,000 young people are offered the chance to get involved and those who seize the opportunity will benefit themselves and local communities and have a lot of fun in the process.

Yesterday I helped develop the scheme with elite athletes involved in the 12 pilot projects, including Olympic swimmers Adam Whitehead and Ross Davenport; boxers Courtney Fry and Dermott Gascoyne; and BMX champion Mike Mullen. I am really looking forward to working alongside these athletes to get to know the young adults and see them develop this summer.


Follow www.twitter.com/@Summerofalife

Guest speaker at Deloitte Ladies’ Lunch

More than 160 women from Nottingham’s business and professional services sector attended Deloitte Charity Ladies’ Lunch and gave me a wonderful reception.

"Anna is an inspirational woman and proved to be a fitting speaker for the lunch. It was also quite timely that she was speaking a week ahead of the 500 day countdown to the Paralympic Games”
Sue Tilstone, director at Deloitte in Nottingham

(Photo on right: Judy Naake, Chair of Maggie’s trustees, myself and Sue Tilstone)

The event raised £4,300 for Maggie's charity, to be used to help fund the construction of Maggie’s new specialist cancer centre, due for completion later this year.

Maggie’s unique centres are located on hospital grounds to provide practical, emotional and psychological support to anyone affected by cancer.

Alan from Fife said:

“Maggie’s takes the loneliness out of cancer – its about learning to live in the moment,”

A wonderfully positive message we can all aspire to - and with that in mind, I shall practice some yoga.

Aspiring Minds - Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust

As an Athlete Mentor on the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, I had a fun day on Wednesday in Big Wood School, Nottingham on the 'Aspiring Minds' project. Skills and positive attitude are taught via interactive activities delivered by a skilled team of trained communicators and a team of elite athletes.

Big Wood School’s Year 9 pupils certainly grasped the opportunity to learn. The Aspiring Minds day is made up of various workshops involving equipment such as batak boards, rowing machines and even equipment that measures how fast you can kick a ball. We ended the sports psychology lesson learning to juggle - in less than 4 minutes for the 13 year old volunteer in my group, very impressive!

As an athlete, I am well aware that attitude is central to success. Even though some pupils were shy at first, everyone finished the day with a positive ‘have a go’ attitude and a big smile. I set out to inspire and came away feeling motivated myself - it is amazing how inspirational young people can be.

Serre Chevalier Support

Two weeks training in Serre Chevalier drew a relatively successful 2010/11 Race Season to a close - bronze and silver medals this year (and 4th in the World Championships) and my desire to achieve is stronger than ever. The warm welcome I received from Serre Che’s community was an intense reminder why I continue to strive to be the best and fight the ongoing battle for Winter Sports funding.

Thanks to backing from Hotel Plein Sud, I was able to work on technique, increase mileage and refuel the passion that drives me to pursue this expensive sport. I feel revitalized by the support and kindness I received and am very much looking forward to intensive race training in Serre Che next winter.

Belief is central to success and Serre Che has fuelled my determination to succeed.

I know I’m not writing a book (yet) but particular thanks to Lynne at Hotel Plein Sud for your faith and support; Paul from the Alpen Bar for excellent skiing; Pikey for fabulous photography; Darren from Insight for great tips - note to self, caution in slushy mogul fields is advised; Emma and Jackson at Alpine Transfer Company; Davina from Ski Connections… It was wonderful to see many friendly faces from my snowboarding days and develop relationships. I even met a Two Seasons employee at the highest point on the mountain, who noticed the Two Seasons sponsor logo on my monoski!

May Lynne proudly display my Europa Cup Final Bronze medal in Hotel Plein Sud (see below).


Now I'm back to work in the UK, speaking at NAIDEX exhibition 'Celebrating Independent Living' at the NEC and as Keynote Speaker at the International Women's Day Charity Launch in Nottingham this week.

2xBronze Medals at Europa Cup Finals

I'm pleased to have finished the season with two Europa Cup Final bronze medals in GS and Slalom, followed by another bronze in Super G. May I continue to improve and have a successful season next year.

I am now training in Serre Chevalier, sponsored by Hotel Plein Sud (click on title). It is great to be back in my favourite resort in the French Alps, where I used to snowboard. Snow conditions are good and the weather has been beautiful, ideal for working on technical aspects of my skiing.

Next week I shall return home, continue my motivational speaking and work with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust. With government cuts, Winter Sports funding looks likely to be pushed aside. In order to continue with this sport and pursue my quest to win medals in the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games I will be working hard to develop relationships and secure sponsorship. Only two full seasons until the 2014 Paralympics and my skiing continues to improve!