The Central London round of the 2009 Panathlon Challenge competition for disabled young people takes place on Monday 16 March at Southfields Community College, London SW18.

100 athletes aged between 8 and 18, (25 each from the boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Islington and Westminster), will compete against each other in the sports of Boccia, New Age Kurling, Polybat, Table Cricket and Athletics. They will be competing for the honour of representing their borough at the All London Final on 25 June 2009.

Ian Rose from the Sporting Champions organisation will be in attendance to hand out medals. Rose, the GB Paralympian Judo star, who has been selected for 4 Paralympic games including Beijing said, “Panathlon is a fantastic opportunity for young disabled Londoners to take part in sporting competition and I wish everybody the best of luck in their own search for gold medals.”

PRO-ACTIVE Central, through 95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child Free Sport for All programme awarded Panathlon funding to help prepare, develop and sustain the activity in the Central Boroughs prior to the March 16 event day.

Angus Robertson, Partnership Director for PRO-ACTIVE Central, said “We are delighted to support Panathlon , the success of the programme and competition has shown that disabled youngsters want to take part in competitive sport. Help a London Child’s money helps us in achieving this aim”

Rich Horsnell, Grants Manager from 95.8 Capital FM’s Help a London Child said: ”Help a London Child is proud to help fund PRO ACTIVE Central’s support of the Panathlon Challenge. We’re delighted to have been able to give the capital’s young disabled people the chance to take part in regular coaching sessions ahead of the Central London finals, and we hope everyone enjoys today’s competition. Help a London Child remains committed to giving sporting opportunities to London’s children by funding activities like Panathlon through our Free Sport for All programme.”