A team of volunteers from our supporters EQ Investors lent a hand at a Panathlon North London Xtend competition in Walthamstow on 23 May.
The eight volunteers guided Key Stage 3 pupils through the sports stations and officiated the competition, in which seven special schools and 72 competitors in total took part.
EQ Investors, through the EQ Foundation, has provided funding for Panathlon over several years which has helped the charity expand its reach and include many more children with disabilities and special educational needs across its sporting programmes.
After several hours tight competition and enthusiastic performances, Riverside School were just edged out by the Haringey neighbours Alexandra Park School.
Catherine Deptford (pictured below) from EQ said: “It was incredible to be a part of the Panathlon event. The enjoyment and fun as well as the excitement and sense of achievement the children experienced was brilliant.”
Other EQ Investors volunteers, Freddie Cleworth and Matt Lewis, had also raised money for Panathlon last weekend alongside colleagues, by taking part in the Nuclear Races event in Brentwood, Essex.
The team took part in a 7K ‘race’ across fields, lakes and swamps involving 65 obstacles that severely tested the physical and mental stamina for all those involved.
Freddie (second from right in the picture below) said after the Panathlon competition in North London: “We saw in real-time the positive effect Panathlon has for the children, building their confidence through the enjoyment of competitive sport.
“I have no doubt this will help lead to broader positive impact in their lives looking forward. A massive well done all the Panathlon team.“
Matt Lewis, (centre) veteran of various half and full marathons for Panathlon previously added: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day of volunteering. Seeing the children’s competitive nature come out and the encouragement among the kids was really infectious.”
Panathlon CEO Ashley Iceton said: “The volunteers from EQ Investors have today witnessed first hand where their investment in our charity goes and the benefits to the young people taking part.
“The staff who have given their blood, sweat and tears over the last few weeks show how far our friends from EQ will go to support for the Panathlon charity. We thank them all for for their heroic efforts.”
