The wonderful support of the Jack Petchey Foundation helps Panathlon provide competitive sporting opportunities for young people with disabilities and special needs in London and Essex.
The Foundation is our longest-running funder and has donated over £1.5million to Panathlon since 2004. Nearly 100,000 young people have benefited from its investment into Panathlon in the 20 years since.
The Jack Petchey Foundation has helped enrich the lives of young people with disabilities and special needs across London and Essex by providing opportunities to engage in competitive sport that they are so often otherwise denied.
Thanks to the Foundation’s support, Panathlon has also been able to create our annual Jack Petchey Foundation Outstanding Achievement awards. Every year since 2009 we have recognised the achievements of young people across London and Essex whose determination and bravery has shone brightest.
Our winners in 2023/24 included Malachi Edewor from Haringey who won Panathlon’s top Outstanding Achievement award. Riverside School pupil Malachi (pictured above) has global development delay – but his condition has not prevented him being appointed as the school’s Head Boy. His teacher Michelle Beekharry says this amazing outcome “would not have happened without Panathlon.” Read Malachi’s story here.
The stories of our other 2024 Jack Petchey Foundation award winners are equally inspiring. Please take time to read about how Ellie Stewart, Joseph Parslow, Amelie Wawn, Lucas White and West Hatch High School made it on to our winners’ podium.
The impact these awards can have is enduring, as shown by 2015 winner Georgie Hart (pictured above). She says her Outstanding Achiever award gave her the confidence to take part in wider society, including giving anti-bullying classes, public speaking and competing in the Paralympic sport of club throwing.
Now, having left school after competing in Panathlons for seven years, she is back helping us and has recently undergone a Young Leaders course so she can put her new-found skills to the test.
Georgie said: “Being part of the Panathlon family means a huge amount to me. The support I have received from them and the Jack Petchey Foundation has been so important in giving me opportunities and making me who I am today. Thank you all!”
We were deeply saddened by the death of Sir Jack Petchey himself in June 2024. Every young person that has participated in Panathlon across London and Essex since 2004 owes Sir Jack a huge thank you.
Andy Sutch, Chair of the Panathlon charity for 10 years, said, “Sir Jack’s foresight and generosity has made such a huge impact on the lives of so many young people. Thank you from everyone at Panathlon.”
Sir Jack once commented: “As a youngster I was passionate about sport and I think everyone should get the chance to take part. Young people with disabilities should get as much chance to be inspired by sport as anyone else. The enthusiasm, determination and joy on the faces of the young people at Panathlon events often moves me to tears. They prove our motto, ‘If you think you can, you can!’”
Visit the Jack Petchey Foundation website.
