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British sports stars step in to help male suicide charity

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If U Care Share was founded in 2011 by County Durham mum Shirley Smith after losing her eldest and much-loved son Dan to suicide on Easter Monday 2005.

Intervening to prevent suicides and providing family support after suicide, its staff also run workshops teaching those from seven to 25 the importance of mental along with physical wellbeing.

The charity, which works with the Premier League and League Football Education to address the issue at football league clubs across the UK, was recently joined by GB judo champion Lachlan Moorhead.

And now Olympic and World Cup medallist, world champion and five times national cycling champion Ryan Owens has offered his support in a bid to bring down rising rates of suicide among young men in Britain.

Ryan, who started competitive cycling when he was 13, said he has seen at first hand the devastating effect loneliness can have on young men.

“Loneliness sounds so unthreatening,” he said, “But it can be fatal and it’s crucial that everyone – but particularly young men, who aren’t necessarily used to expressing their emotions, can talk about their feelings.

“I feel so strongly about this that I wanted to offer practical help – not just sympathetic social media soundbites – and that’s why I’m really pleased to be supporting If U Care Share and the phenomenal work they do.”

Lachlan, a Grand Slam and multiple European medallist who started training in judo at age six, was just 11 when his idol, World Judo Champion Craig Fallon, died by suicide in 2019 aged 36.

“He was my hero,” he said, “and the best judo athlete to ever come out of Great Britain in my opinion.

“I barely knew him but what his death showed me was that often people who seem fine are struggling inside and my opinion is that we don’t talk about this often enough.”

Lachlan and Ryan were introduced to If U Care Share by Athlete Media Group – which represents athletes from a variety of sports, united in a desire to give back to society by lending their voices to a range of causes, from ocean plastic to bullying, sustainability and diversity.

Their support, said the charity, could “very well mean the difference between life and death,” with current figures showing male suicides are triple those of women.

Seventeen years on from her son’s death, Shirley still does not know what drove him to take his own life, “but we also know that 75 per cent of men that end their lives have no diagnosis, or history of mental illness,” she said.

“However, sport can reach people – especially young men –when other methods fail,” said Shirley, “which is why we are so thrilled to have Lachlan and now Ryan on board.”

The blind England footballer creating better awareness for disabled people…Azeem Amir

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Azeem Amir is in his early 20s and has already graduated from Salford University with a master’s degree, started his journey as an entrepreneur and represents England in his sport. Evidently a high achiever, it is also worth noting that Amir was born with vision impairments. His journey has been by no means easy, however you can be assured that the young athlete has no intentions of stopping just yet.

Unlike many children with vision impairments, Amir attended a mainstream education school and had to adapt to his environment to learn, even if it meant being resourceful and creative. Keen to join in, Amir played football alongside other pupils but struggled with the visual aspects of the game. It wasn’t until he turned 15 that someone suggested he try blind football. Initially it was a hobby for Amir and he played for a club Merseyside, slowly developing his skills until he was scouted. Now, he plays for England and has hopes of taking it all the way to the top.

The game of blind football is still relatively unknown, and because of this the facilities and the networks are much smaller and more concentrated in the UK. “It’s very much like an individual sport when you’re away from a team environment and you’ve got train on your own” Amir tells The AMG, “so yeah, it’s been challenging at times”. In spite of the hurdles which he faces as a para-athlete, Amir has been fortunate to forge strong and meaningful connections to allow him to train.

As well as aiming for Paris 2024, the footballer is on a mission to raise awareness surrounding disability by focussing on the lived experience of disabled persons. Whilst at university Amir set up his business Learn With ESS (Education, Sport and Speaking) with the hope of giving abled people a better understanding of what it is like on a day-to-day basis for a disabled person. The desired result, says Amir, is developing the skill of empathy via fun and interactive workshops. “I don’t remember maths lessons or science lessons” Amir reflects, “but I remember the interactive experiences I had in school”.

Discussion surrounding disabilities is often limited to the Paralympics, and although the event is a great way of showcasing the potential of those with disabilities it fails to keep the topic high-up on people’s agendas, thus limiting social movements in favour of positive change for disabled people. Amir believes that important discussions such as these should start when we are young, therefore Learn With ESS has been providing large workshops in schools to increase awareness. The desired impact for Amir is what he calls “lightbulb moments”. Making people think about how disabled people face daily challenges can really stimulate students to understand and consider alternative perspectives, an element which Amir believes is key to raising awareness for people with disabilities and improving their day to day lives.

Going virtual was a new challenge for Amir when the pandemic hit, however he has only seen Learn With ESSexpand. Originally the business was run by Amir and some of his family members, however people were quick to understand the importance of the footballers’ mission. Now, Amir’s team boasts a network of volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds: “I really enjoy the fact that people became passionate about what I was passionate about, and that’s why I’ve got a good team around me who are helping to grow the business.”

Learning to adapt and overcome has been a constant theme in both Amir’s personal and professional life. He is keen to stress that even when times are tough, perseverance is key but so is knowing how to enjoy the process. “You don’t have to be the next Jeff Bezos or the next Steve Jobs” he explains, “You don’t have to grow an empire or a world changing organization. You can just have your small business that backs people on a local, practical and genuine level. There’s nothing better than that really.”

GB Judo Champion Fights Male Suicide – LACHLAN MOOREHEAD

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And the 21-year-old hopes to raise awareness of the rising number of suicides among young men after figures showed male suicides are triple those of women.

Lachlan, a Grand Slam and multiple European medallist who started training in judo at age six, was just 11 when his idol, World Judo Champion Craig Fallon, committed suicide in 2019 aged 36.

“He was my hero,” he said, “and the best judo athlete to ever come out of Great Britain in my opinion.

“My dad and I would travel for miles to attend his masterclasses and, like everyone in the sport, we were utterly stunned and bewildered when he died.

“I barely knew him but what his death showed me was that often people who seem fine are struggling inside and my opinion is that we don’t talk about this often enough.

“Judo is seen as a pretty macho sport and I hope that by getting involved with If U Care Share I can really help them push the message that mental health issues can affect anyone and that it is vital to talk, because that really can mean the difference between life and death.”

Lachlan was introduced to If U Care Share by Athlete Media Group – which represents athletes from a variety of sports, united in a desire to give back to society by lending their voices to a range of causes, from ocean plastic to bullying, sustainability and diversity.

The charity was founded by Shirley Smith after losing her eldest and much-loved son Dan to suicide on Easter Monday 2005.

“Dan had no previous history of mental illness and had never reached out to our GP,” she said.

“He had a job, plans for the future and a family that loved him and showed no signs of his intent or the inward struggle that led to him ending his life.

“Seventeen years on, we still do not know what lead to his death,” she said, “but we also know that 75 per cent of men that end their lives have no diagnosis, or history of mental illness.”

She founded the charity in 2011 with the aims of intervening to prevent suicides and providing family support after suicide and now runs workshops teaching those from seven to 25 the importance of mental along with physical wellbeing.

The charity is also working with the League Football Education to address the issue at football league clubs across the UK.

“Sport can reach people – especially young men –when other methods fail,” said Shirley, “which is why we are so thrilled to have Lachlan on board.

“He is not only a credit to his sport but to his country and we are delighted he has agreed to become an ambassador for If U Care Share.”

For further information, interviews or images please contact Bernice Saltzer at AMG’s PR team, Sorted PR on 07977 860183 or email bernice@sortedpr.com

YUYU Bottle forms a new union with England Rugby

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And the collaboration with the Red Roses, England’s women’s senior rugby union team, couldn’t have happened at a better time, with the side already making it into the record books, following their crushing defeat of the USA team last Sunday.

The YuYu Bottle, first broke into the international sporting arena after being used by Team GB athletes to stay cool at this year’s Tokyo summer Olympic Games.  And the bottles have now been adopted by the rugby players as an easy-to-use way of warming up muscles and cooling down aches, sprains and inflammation before, during and after their games.

The bottles, complete with a bespoke England cover – which are 81cm long and come with an adjustable strap for easy wear – are proving invaluable to the women in helping the team in recovering between games.

The deal was agreed at the beginning of the Red Roses’ busy autumn schedule, with the women winning four out of four games and continuing their streak of being unbeaten is their last 18 games.

Emily Ross, lead physiotherapist for the senior England’s Women’s rugby team, is delighted by what the bottles can offer.

“Elite sport is an ever-evolving landscape and even more so in this COVID-19 world,” she said.

“We as support staff have been focused on sustainable-adaptable strategies to withstand any changes thrown at us in whatever continent we are training in.

“YuYu Bottles allow a great adaptable recovery strategy for players, and especially for female athletes. The tie allows players to recover whilst on the move.

“It also is a great option in limiting the potential performance deficits from menstrual symptoms.”

Her words are echoed by Saracens and Red Roses flanker, Marlie Packer, who believes the bottles have become something of a secret weapon.

“I absolutely love the YuYu Bottle,” said Marlie. “It works for me in multiple ways. The hot and cold elements are perfect for players like myself and the fact that they can be used on the go is a huge benefit.”

Richard Yu, founder of the company and creator of the award-winning product, has watched it become a firm favourite with athletes from across all areas of sport.

“The bottles are designed to be completely flexible and can be moved round so they target where they will do the most good,” he said.

“They can be worn across the shoulder, tied round the waist or lower back or just wrapped around joints such as the knees and ankles.

“The water inside the bottles can also be frozen and the temperature of the bottle can be manipulated by the thickness of the fabric cover, allowing players to keep key muscle groups at the ideal temperature needed to help extend their recovery and achieve those marginal gains all elite athletes and their physios strive for.”

The YuYu Bottles have also been extremely successful in helping people suffering from chronic pain and from a range of medical conditions and the hope is now to build further relationship with other sporting organisations.

YuYu Bottles were created by Richard who realised that the design of hot water bottles hadn’t changed in centuries and were often not fit for purpose.

His 21st century creation is made of the highest quality, sustainable fair trade rubber from Sri Lanka. This is not the first partnership for YuYu Bottles which also works closely with ethical sports agency, The Athlete Media Group (AMG), where many of their athletes are also strong advocates of the YuYu Bottle.  They include double Olympic Gold medal winning sailor and environmentalist Hannah Mills, MBE, who also set up the Big Plastic Pledge, to save the oceans from being a dumping ground for single use plastics.

The agreement with YuYu has been warmly welcomed by the rugby world, with Tom Heeks, Licensing Manager of Rugby Football Union, seeing it as a great move for both organisations.

“We’re really excited to be working with YuYu Bottle to develop some really targeted product,” he said.

“YuYu Bottles are an excellent way to keep warm in cold weather and cool in hot, which means they’re perfect for rugby players and fans.”

NOTES TO NEWS DESKS

For further information/interviews/samples please contact Bernice Saltzer at Sorted PR on 07977 860183 or email bernice@sortedpr.com

Among those who find the bottles help ease their conditions are people suffering from scoliosis (curvature of the spine), arthritis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, colitis, and endometriosis to name but a few.

England Rugby branded YuYu Bottles retail at £60.

https://www.yuyubottle.com

@yuyubottle

OLYMPIC ATHLETES SEND VIDEO APPEAL TO WORLD LEADERS AT COP26, CALLING FOR CLIMATE ACTION..

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The athletes are hoping that its sentiment – which highlights the dedication of the world’s athletes to being the best – will bring home the need for global powers to use their determination and skills to preserve and protect the planet.

Each athlete, from countries including Qatar, USA, Kenya, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UK, have given their support to the campaign, which was the initiative of gold medal winning sailor, Hannah Mills MBE – who also appears in the video – and rower, Melissa Wilson, and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Both women are huge supporters of environmental causes and worked together to create the video, ahead of COP26, the United National Climate Change conference which is taking place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November.

“We think athletes have a huge potential to be powerful advocates for the environment,” said Hannah.

“Sport has huge cultural and political influence. The platform athletes have and the support they receive from fans means we are in a key position to communicate about what matters.

“We also believe that the qualities that athletes and sports cultivate are really important in terms of how we approach climate change: qualities like resilience, teamwork, courage, ambition to push boundaries, strategic thinking, staying focussed under pressure.

“Above all, athletes have the experience of pursuing a huge challenge, such as becoming an Olympic champion, over an extended period of time by being the best they can be each day – it’s that approach we need to take for climate change.”

Melissa added that the pair had been “overwhelmed” by the response from their fellow athletes when they asked them to take part.

“COP26 presents a massive opportunity for all the global leaders to up their climate commitments, which is essential if we’re going to avoid widespread and catastrophic climate impacts over the coming decades.

“We wanted world leaders to hear from some of Tokyo’s highest-profile athletes how much it matters that they are ambitious in what they set out to do, tapping into the human capacity to push limits in the face of adversity and come together to accomplish something beyond what we can do as individuals.

“We believe elite athletes have a unique opportunity to encourage action in this space, in a way that brings people together when facing the challenge that climate change poses to all of us.”

Both Hannah and Melissa are strong advocates of the sports world championing sustainability. Along with running the Big Plastic Pledge to rid the oceans of single use plastics, Hannah is a European Climate Pact Ambassador and a Sustainability Ambassador for the IOC (International Olympics Committee).

In September 2020 Melissa wrote and published a letter to the UK Government calling for a green recovery to the pandemic, which had over 320 GB Olympian and Paralympian signatories and worked with TeamGB in the run-up to Tokyo 2020, developing a one hour climate education session with AimHi tailored for athletes, which was delivered to TeamGB and ParalympicsGB athletes before they travelled to the Games.

At the time she developed a project called OLYEarth, and, as part of this, more than 80 Team GB athletes used a symbol to communicate their care for the planet during their time in Tokyo.

“COP26 presents a massive opportunity for all the global leaders to up their climate commitments, which is essential if we’re going to avoid widespread and catastrophic climate impacts over the coming decades,” said Hannah.

Ends

For more information and to view the video visit https://athletesoftheworld.org/

For further information/interview requests please contact Bernice Saltzer at Sorted PR on 07977 860183 or email bernice@sortedpr.com or Isabel Hall at IH Sports Marketing on 07856 825995 or email isabel@ihsportsmarketing.com

 

 

 

 

“Giving up just wasn’t an option” | Sal Hussain completes Fan Dance age 15

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Sal joined the Royal Marine Cadets in 2018 with the hope that it would give him a “a sense of discipline and a solid routine” in his life. Having been bullied in school, Sal was initially reluctant to join as it was severely outside of his comfort zone. It was only a matter of time before he found himself fully immersed in the new world cadets introduced him to, expressing that the decision to join was “one of the best decisions” he had ever made. “Since then I’ve been subject to so many opportunities” Sal tells the AMG, “and I’ve met so many wonderful people that I would never have met if I hadn’t [joined].”

The decision to do the Fan Dance was an easy one for Sal. The march was a test of perseverance but also a fundraiser for his detachment and the Special Boat Service Association (SBSA). As all SBS members must undergo the Fan Dance, Sal saw it as a fitting tribute to those he looks up to. With his father, Gul Nawaz ‘Naz’ Hussain QC, Sal would prepare with long walks in the Peak District, as well as utilising the local Steel City Steps in Sheffield for tough uphill sections of the Beacons such as Jacob’s Ladder. They would do several routes on Mam Tor and Win Hill, gradually extending the distances, getting up at 5am for extensive walking, often in the rain.

All of the training, Sal’s father disclosed, twice transcended Ramadan and therefore required Sal to have no food or water during his training hikes. Overall, Sal would be fasting for approximately 18 hours a day on top of the exercise. Though it gave him the confidence that he could complete the Fan Dance with only a few items for refuelling, it did lead Sal and his father to underestimate the nutritional needs on the day: “All we brought with us were water, two Capri Suns and a couple of Mars bars because we were still used to fasting…that turned out to be a punishing lesson.” Pretty soon, Sal’s salt levels were depleting at a rapid rate. For a time this slowed Sal down significantly during the second half. Thankfully, with a few sachets of electrolyte powder and a steely desire to finish, Sal overcame the error and powered on.

A major factor which lead to Sal’s success was his unassailable levels of motivation. Knowing that many had donated to the cause, he felt that he would be letting down his supporters if he were to not finish the course: “I quickly told myself that giving up just wasn’t an option. Even when it got hard and I felt like quitting, I just had to take it one step at a time, picking out points in front of me and saying ‘okay, in five minutes I want to be there, and then I can go to this point and that point’ and take it in sizable chunks. If you look at all that lies ahead, you’ll just get overwhelmed and you’ll defeat yourself mentally.” He also kept in mind phrases used by the Special Forces, such as “Always a little further” and a useful reminder by his Sergeant, “If you think you can’t go on, go on.”

For Sal, the toughest part of the Fan Dance was the notorious Roman Road, a long rocky section leading to the halfway point. When he reached the end of the section, he realised that his bag was overweight by 5kg, leading him to ditch the excess luggage and readjust. Nonetheless the image of the finish line kept Sal going. In the end, he broke out into a run to cross the line so he could “finish strong” in front of a joyous crowd.

Physical fitness was not the only thing Sal gained from the two years of training and the challenge itself. He identified two major lessons from his triumphant feat: preparation is key, and persistence is essential: “we’d send letters to organizations just to be silently rejected and we could have easily given up and stopped putting this link out and getting more donations, but we didn’t. We carried on, and we actually got past our target of £5,000”.

Such lessons have been deeply instilled in Sal by his father, who found that when growing up people often try to project their own shortcomings and fears onto you. “If they can’t do something or don’t want to do something, they can’t possibly imagine that you could” explains Naz, “And I said to [Sal], look, you know, that happened to me, and you can’t let that happen to you. You have to find what you believe in, and you’ve got to be single-minded and focused on it and not allow haters to affect you.”

As Muslim men, Sal and Naz are keen to represent their community and their allegiance to the British armed forces. Recently, Sal discovered that the Royal British Legion (RBL) sold Islamic crescents for Remembrance Day  without a poppy attached, unlike other religious tributes that were sold. Taking initiative, Sal sought to change the tribute so that the contribution of Muslim soldiers from the Commonwealth during the first and second World Wars was recognised in exactly the same way. The RBL agreed explaining the discrepancy was due to erroneous advice they had received.  Muslim soldiers in the World Wars “performed amazing acts of gallantry, but nobody knows about them” Naz highlights, “I think it’s really important that this is taught at schools because I’d like to think it would help deal with low-level bigotry”. He believes that this knowledge and shared history should be wider known in Britain, and it would certainly help the third and fourth generation of Muslim children “feel [like] a bigger part of society.”

With a great sense of cultural pride and jubilation, Sal has set his sights on bigger challenges as a cadet, such as a historic 9-mile load-bearing speed march in Scotland. However at the top of his list, Sal is hopeful of becoming a reserve as soon as he becomes of age, as well as enrolling in medical school. Even at the age of 15, anything is possible for Sal, as long as he puts his mind to it.

“Sharing our personal journeys is incredibly powerful” | Jodie Ounsley

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Ounsley was born in 2001. As she was a premature baby, her health struggled and lead to complete hearing loss. Her parents had never met or known a deaf person, and they didn’t know who to turn to. Thankfully, the advancing technology at the time allowed her to be one of the youngest recipients of the cochlear implant at the time, aged only 13 months. With the aid of the Elizabeth Foundation, a charity which helps deaf children learn to listen and talk, Ounsley attended weekly rehab so that she was prepared for mainstream schooling. “Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today” says Ounsley.

Photograph by Ben McDade

Ounsley was a late-comer to rugby, having previous success in the lesser-known coal carrying championships – unsurprising when you discover that her father was a world-champion coal carrier. She took the event seriously and attributes the races as the place “where the fire started”, igniting the desire to be a top athlete. Athletics was her next calling, regularly participating in ‘deaf athletics competitions’: “I was the kid in P.E. who just got stuck into any sport, I didn’t care as long as we were moving and there was a chance to win.” Still hungry, Ounsley also took to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, winning a British title in her teens. Yet it wasn’t enough – she needed something combining the two sports, with speed, aggression and diverse community at its core.

Though always attracted to rugby, Ounsley was dissuaded by doctors due to the risks it posed to her cochlear implant. The general advice for those who wear the implant is to avoid contact sport altogether. “The processor that sits on the ear could break and stop working, however this can be replaced” explains Ounsley, but “the real risk is a direct blow to the implant that sits under the skin on the skull, as it could dislodge the magnet. This could cause complications such as having another operation to correct the magnet (however it may not be successful) which would result in not ever being able to hear again.”

In spite of this, Ounsley itched to get on the pitch and finally persuaded her parents to let her play, on the condition she wore a scrum cap. “I turned up to a local club, [and] I was that nervous I refused to get out of the car in the car park and nearly asked my dad to take me back home” she recalls. “I am so glad I didn’t go home; I did the session, and I was absolutely hooked!”

“There’s no denying that deafness is a disability, and this is absolutely fine because it’s the truth” says Ounsley. Playing with able-bodied women on the pitch however requires Ounsley’s style of play to be a little different. Lip-reading, body-language, hand signals and identifying where the space is are key techniques for the defender. Additionally, she has “learnt to be more open and honest with people with how they can help me on the field.”

Ounsley is now on a new mission having recently launched Not Just Anyone (NJA), a platform for human stories made to inspire, motivate and connect. Drawing on her own personal experience as a deaf athlete, Ounsley wants to inspire and educate people in a positive way. She is a firm believer that the conversation surrounding disability needs to change:  “I think people are almost a little afraid to talk about it in general as it’s a bit of a ‘taboo’ subject…when in fact we need to talk more about it, whether that is hearing someone’s personal journey or having access to more education so that people are aware of these things and not afraid”.

With these aims in mind, Ounsley is hopeful that others can benefit from NJA. By sharing her own story, other people can come forward about their experiences with confidence, supporting others in the process. “The impact of connecting and sharing our personal journeys is incredibly powerful, with the potential to inspire others to be curious and push themselves beyond comfort with the knowledge that anything is possible” Ounsley tells AMG. “I think a positive platform is very much needed in the world, especially on social media. The internet is far too saturated with negativity and hate, I just want to bring a shed of hope and create somewhere where people feel safe and inspired.”

Detailing the changes she hopes to see in the sporting landscape, Ounsley’s priority is to create a healthy environment for sportspeople to learn about differently abled bodies, promoting a greater level of inclusivity: “Everyone needs a bit of light and encouragement in their life and if I can be a small part of it then my job is done…from [personal] experience, the majority of the rugby community I have come across hadn’t had much experience when it came to a deaf person, never mind a deaf rugby player in an elite environment. By being open and honest this has educated and raised awareness to players, coaches and staff to be more open minded about these things which is really powerful.”

A real homegrown athlete, Ounsley attributes her success to her family who pushed her to find her passion, ensuring that her disability was also a strength which wouldn’t prevent her from achieving at the highest level. Inspired by the support from them, and the hope that she can improve the conversation surrounding disability and sport, Ounsley is seemingly unstoppable.

ATHLETES SUPPORT THOSE PROTECTING AFRICA’S ENDANGERED SPECIES…

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For Rangers raises awareness and funds about the dangerous work its protectors, the rangers, do in keeping wildlife in 16 protected areas of Kenya & around the world safe, along with drawing attention to the fact that more than 1000 rangers have died worldwide in the line of duty since 2003.

And now the organisation has won the support of The Athlete Media Group, which represents 16 elite athletes from across a range of sporting disciplines, announced ahead of this week’s (31 July) World Rangers Day.

AMG has agreed that every time of its elite athletes performs and wins in their particular sports – which coversrugby, sailing, triathlon, boxing, beach volleyball and table tennis the agency will donate funds to the For Rangers charity.

The agreement was inspired by Eliud Kipchoge, the world’s fastest ever marathon runner, competing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and a For Rangers ambassador.

Mark Middlemas, CEO and Founder of AMG said he was inspired to support the charity after hearing Kipchoge “speak so passionately” about the vitally brave work the rangers carried out.

 .”I thought why couldn’t we pair our athletes with the protected areas the rangers work in and use their performances around the globe to raise additional funds in a fun, creative way?” he said.

“ Without the keynote wildlife species the rangers protect the valuable eco-systems would disappear and so I wanted to help do something about it.  This is all about performance-powered wildlife protection.  We plan to invite brand partners to match our athletes contributions as part of future deals and aim to take the idea to a much bigger level across sport.”

Sam Taylor, co-founder of For Rangers, said he was delighted about the partnership.

“The rangers risk their lives on a daily basis to protect the animals and the areas that they live in,” he said.

“It is so important that we draw attention to the work they do and find ways to support them and this brilliant partnership with The Athlete Media Group will help us do this.                                              We are very grateful for their support.”

About ForRangers

In conjunction with Save the Rhino, For Rangers are a dedicated group of individuals who are raising money for the welfare of rangers who risk their lives daily to protect Africa’s endangered species.  Over a thousand rangers have been killed in the line of duty since 2003.   For Rangers raises awareness and funds for the welfare of the rangers on the front line of the battle to save Africa’s wildlife.

 

Avanti Communications partners British cruiserweight boxing star, Isaac Chamberlain

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The 27 year old, who boasts an impressive 12-1 record, will work with Avanti to promote the right to education for all children. Both Avanti and Chamberlain understand how critical it is that every child can learn and win in all areas of their lives.

Avanti recently announced its support for a new Global Partnership for Education (GPE) initiative to advance girls’ education in Africa. The initiative uses social media marketing as a tool to drive behaviour change around social norms keeping girls from school.

At the beginning of June, Chamberlain joined the GPE’s international #PoetryforLocals x #RaiseYourHand campaign to draw attention to both the global education crisis and the disappearance of local businesses due to COVID-19.

Commenting on the partnership, Isaac Chamberlain said: “Just like training to be a pro boxer, a child’s education needs to be consistent and to take place in the best possible environment with all the necessary tools available. That’s why I’m so happy to work with Avanti to fight for all kids, both in Britain and around the world, to be able to learn and achieve their potential.”

Avanti CEO, Kyle Whitehill, added: “Isaac’s resilience in the face of monumental challenges is well documented, so he truly embodies the hope and determination we have for improving the chances of young people around the world. His passion for education aligns perfectly with Avanti’s commitment to facilitating access to quality learning for all, so that no one is left behind. We wish him the best of luck for his bout on September 10th.”

Since Avanti launched in 2002, they have had a vision to design, build and launch pioneering satellite technology that would provide coverage even in the most remote or demanding locations. Today they are a leading partner to the communications industry, connecting over 1.7 billion people across 118 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

About Avanti Communications

Avanti Communications is the leading Ka-band high throughput satellite capacity partner to the communications industry in EMEA – extending and guaranteeing coverage for defence missions, enterprise solutions and critical public services.

Through the HYLAS satellite fleet and partners in 118 countries, Avanti provides dedicated fixed and flexible-beam satellite connectivity, with extensive coverage across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group has invested $1.2bn in a network that incorporates orbital slots in Ka-band spectrum, satellites, ground stations, datacentres and a fibre ring.

www.avantiplc.com

 

For Further information:

Avanti Communications: avanti@threesixtycomms.com

“People’s past mistakes don’t define who they are” – former prisoner sets multiple SUP world records

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David currently resides in Bournemouth, Dorset, living a very different life compared to the one before his arrest. Having previously struggled with gambling after his business was unsuccessful, he began to make a series of poor choices. He succumbed to the slippery slope of crime but was quick to realise his mistakes, admitting that he let his hunger for adventure “slip away” during this period. Prison was an opportunity for David to rethink his actions and reinvent himself.

David currently works as a consult for Penal Reform Solutions, having been given a chance to reintegrate into society and is aspiring to be a full-time Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) adventurer. Prior to SUP he was a keen surfer, however he found that the British seaside can’t always offer rideable waves. It was at this point he found the joys of flat waters, enabling an “extra sense of freedom” that surfing could not provide. “I like the escape that it brings, it’s a chance to reconnect with myself and quench my thirst for adventure” David explains. Whilst serving his time in prison, David’s family sent him paddle board magazines to read, and he would stick photos from the articles on his wall and “daydreaming about where [he] could go”. Since his release in 2019, he wants to make sure that he appreciates his life as a free person more.

Powered by this new sense of freedom, David put his motivation to good use and decided to raise money for Alliance of Sport, a charity which aims to reduce violence, crime and reoffending through sports. He set course to break several world records, aiming to break the quickest times for stand-up paddle boarding across the longest lakes in Scotland (Loch Awe), England (Lake Windermere), Northern Ireland (Lough Neagh) and Wales (Llyn Tegid) – a combined total of 100km. The longest lake, Loch Awe, measures at approximately 40km and took David less than 6 hours.

His proudest moment was after he completed Lough Neagh. With time to spare, David sat with a pint of Guinness and suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion: “I was thinking [that] just over a year ago, I was sitting in a prison cell surrounded by so much failure, so much negativity…and here I am now, a world record holder, doing some good, highlighting the importance of reform and rehabilitation and proving that my past mistakes and other people’s past mistakes don’t define who they are”.

Incarceration, plus the work of Dr Sarah Lewis from the Penal Reform Solutions organisation, is what David accredits to his realisation that “adventure is what makes [him] come alive”. Having recognised that his life before was unsustainable David was able to change his whole outlook, and is ready to give back to those that helped him become who he is today.

David is a large advocate of penal reform, having been given a second chance to flourish and understand what life away from crime could give him. He explained to AMG that his life now is “not about money, it’s not about making impressions and [you should] just be yourself. That’s what I had to be. I didn’t need to impress anybody…I’ve come out now and I just want to enjoy life through adventure, through being outdoors and just living a simple life.”

As well as gaining re employment – a particularly challenging task for those with criminal records – David has been participating in charity work. One of which is a 100km walk along the Jurassic Coast which stretches from Devon to Dorset, all in 24 hours, with the hope of promoting the importance of abolishing modern day slavery. The trek was something that David “really enjoyed”, and is looking forward to doing more of once the pandemic ends.

David does not plan on halting his newfound hunger for exploration, with multiple lakes, rivers and seas on his bucket list. He plans to dedicate his future to raising awareness around reform and rehabilitation, explaining that “We have a broken system and if we really want to make a difference we need to come together as a society [and we] need to do more”.  However this is not the only thing David is keen to support. “I also want to champion and promote growth and change within ourselves” he says, “I want to encourage more people to learn about themselves. It doesn’t matter how big or small your adventures are. Tune in with yourself, learn about who you are” and in doing so “you become a better person.”

If a handful of world records was not enough, David has now set his sights on breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to paddle the non-tidal stretch of the river Thames on a paddle board, which totals a staggering 208km. He is hoping to complete the paddle in 36 hours and without sleep. Yet for David, the record is not the focal point. “I’m just learning more about what I can actually achieve in life” he explains “And I can take that mindset and improve my family life, my work life, my own personal life…I actually love it.

You can donate to David’s Guinness World Record attempt here, and keep up to date with his adventures on his blog, Nomadic Paddler.

 

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