On Tuesday 19th August, the Personal Best Foundation was proud to be invited to take part in the Virtual Schools Athletics Day. The event was delivered by London Virtual Schools, Barts Health NHS Trust, and London Marathon Events, all working together to use sport as a tool for positive change in the lives of young people.
This free and inclusive event was held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Community Track and welcomed over 60 children in Years 4–7 from the care system, current and former patients from Barts Health NHS Trust, and those attending HAF camps. The session was organised to help young people get the opportunity to access and discover the joy that athletics can bring, both mentally and physically.
A session of fun, movement, and inspiration
The morning featured a mix of athletics-based activities, including running, jumping, and throwing, which were chosen to be inclusive and accessible for children of all abilities.
Fatima Whitbread MBE, Olympic javelin gold medallist and Personal Best Foundation Ambassador, welcomed the young people to the session. Then a warm-up was led by Montell Douglas, also known as Fire from BBC's Gladiators. The young people were given the chance to experience both Olympic athletes' energy and encouragement throughout the activities. There was lots of laughter and smiles throughout the whole session.
Championing children in care through Sport
Fatima, a leading advocate for children in care, joined the event to share her story and inspire the next generation. Having spent part of her childhood in the foster care system before being adopted by her javelin coach, Margaret Whitbread, Fatima brings a powerful, relatable and personal perspective to her work. As someone who knows first-hand how sport can build confidence, resilience, and community, her presence was especially meaningful for many of the young people attending the session.
Fatima Whitbread, MBE, Personal Best Foundation Ambassador
“I was abandoned as a baby, and grew up in the children's care system for the first 14 years of my life. and then I found sport and sport was my saviour. The highlight of the day for me is being able to work with young people, they're like a sponge to water they love to learn and are very creative. These events are really important and Personal Best Foundation are here to help young people discover new skills, how to work with others and develop friendships and role models. Plus help them find their personal best on and off the track through the power of athletics.'
Amy Murtagh - Programme Manager at Personal Best Foundation
''We are incredibly proud to have supported the LME virtual schools athletics day. The event brought together young people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of whom face significant challenges in their daily lives. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Personal Best Foundation’s mission to empower children and young people to discover their potential, regardless of their circumstances, through the power of athletics. The day was a huge success. It was truly heart warming to see the children fully engaged and enjoying every moment of the athletics activities as well as meeting two truly inspiring Olympic champions. Their enthusiasm and joy were a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive, community-led events that provide safe, inspiring spaces for children to build confidence, have fun, and thrive.''
Connecting sport to opportunity
Alongside the activities, children and their families received information about local athletics clubs and were introduced to the funetics Hub in Lewisham, a community-based programme funded by the Personal Best Foundation offering free regular athletics-based activity sessions for children.
Personal Best Foundation
Our mission is to change young people's lives through the power of athletics, one run, jump, throw and smile at a time. Helping them to discover their personal best on and off the track.
Fatima’s involvement in the Virtual Schools Athletics Day is just one example of how our ambassadors are helping to create meaningful, lasting impact in communities across the UK.
Imagery by Simon Roberts
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