Golden day for Alder Hey Christmas kids
Dec 9 2008 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Echo

Members of the GB Olympic team at Alder Hey 320
OLYMPIANS hailed Alder Hey's young patients as heroes when they made a special Christmas visit to the children's hospital.
Seven members of Team GB were greeted with carols and cheers by excited youngsters who are facing spending the festive period in hospital.
The squad included boxing gold medallist James DeGale and bronze medallist David Price, and Liverpool-based gymnast Beth Tweddle.
Along with high jumper Martyn Bernard, diver Blake Aldridge, boxer Tony Jeffries and Paralympian rower Alistair McKean, they met youngsters on the oncology ward.
They included 16-month-old Nicolas Rennuy-Metcalfe, who has a rare cancerous tumour in his stomach.
His dad Kevin, of Crosby, said: "Like these boxers, he is a little fighter.
"We face nine months of treatment, including operations, chemo and radiotherapy, but we are determined to get through it and come out the other side.
"We are being positive and the prospect of facing Christmas in hospital is helped by visits like this.
"I think Nicolas has enjoyed all the attention."
Tweddle, who trains in Toxteth, said: "Nobody wants to spend time in hospital over Christmas and it is really good to be able to help spread a bit of festive cheer. Some of the children watched the Olympics on the television so were really excited to see us.
"It was a real privilege for us to meet them too and to see what a wonderful place Alder Hey is.
"They are the real heroes."
Price, of West Derby, said meeting the youngsters was "extremely humbling".
He said: "I have a young daughter and just love children.
"If she was in hospital at this time of year, or any time of year, I would be devastated.
"To be able to do something like this for a hospital is what Christmas is all about."
DeGale added: "The children were so excited. It was really great to know that we have helped put a smile on their faces in the run-up to Christmas."
Alder Hey's Angela Jones said of the visit: "It was just magical in every sense of the word."

Olympic athletes deliver Christmas cheer to hospital youngsters

Olympic athletes deliver Christmas cheer to hospital youngsters.

BRITISH Olympians brought smiles to the children at Alder Hey hospital yesterday.
Team GB Olympians Cheshire's Beth Tweddle, the UK's most successful gymnast, and Liverpool's Boxing Bronze medallist David Price were among the stars.
They were joined by swimmer Thomas Hatfield, Paralympian rower Alistair Mckean, synchronised diver Blake Aldridge and boxers Tony Jeffries and James Degale.
On arrival, the athletes were welcomed at Alder Hey's yellow brick road entrance on Alder Road by patients, families and nursery children waving Union Jack Flags.
They then toured the wards chatting to patients and showing of their medals.
Beth Tweddle said: "We all really enjoyed meeting the children in the wards, and some who were only in for the day."

Dec 9 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

Premier League and Under 21 England Striker Leroy Lita and Sports for Schools join forces

Danny's visit gives East Preston pupils a flying start in sport

By Littlehampton Gazette

OLYMPIC hopeful Danny Lawrence gave a breathtaking display of gymnastics at East Preston Junior School.

Pupils and staff gasped as Danny performed an amazing routine of floor exercises, including a flying leap over three children and a teacher.

His visit was arranged with the organisation Sport for School, which helps to raise funds for athletes and schools at the same time.

And the East Preston pupils did their bit for the scheme by taking part in a series of sponsored exercises.

Teacher John Galvin, who set up Danny's visit, said: "The children

were in awe of Danny. To have someone so talented just a couple of metres away was just fantastic."

"All the children were buzzing and one boy who is only ever interested in football said it was incredible."

Danny went through the basics of gymnastics, including forward rolls, somersaults and cartwheels, before dazzling everyone with his more advanced techniques.

"Hopefully it will inspire our children, and particularly the boys, to consider taking up gymnastics, having seen someone so good at it at such close quarters," added Mr Galvin.

Currently placed third in the GB rankings, Danny faces an anxious two months before the trials which will decide which two gymnasts go to the Beijing Olympics with the national team.

But if the cheers and reception he was given at East Preston had anything to do with the decision, he would already be packing his bags for the plane.

The full article contains 251 words and appears in n/a newspaper.

Last Updated: 08 February 2008 9:47 PM

Stone Cross Primary - Sports for Schools

The pupils at Stone Cross are put through their paces by Danny Lawrence. (e05034j)

By Eastbourne Today

Children took time out of lessons and were put through their paces in a sponsored fitness event.

Around 420 pupils at Stone Cross Primary School took part in the Sports for Schools event and physical education co-ordinator Andrew Down says the school hopes to have raised around £2,000.

The children challenged themselves to complete a range of exercises and were helped by British gymnast Danny Lawrence.

The athlete then put on a display for the youngsters.

Mr Down said, "The children enjoyed themselves and the gymnastic display from Danny Lawrence was really quite impressive."

Around 40 per cent of the funds will be donated to Sports for Schools and the rest will go to Stone Cross Primary School.

Mr Down says some of the money will be used to support a fundraising project for a school in Tanzania.

The full article contains 145 words and appears in n/a newspaper.

Last Updated: 07 February 2008 4:37 PM

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/fitn/Stone-Cross-sports-for-schools.3757404.jp

Reprieve for gym club

The Sutton School of Gymnastics (SSG) was presented with a cheque for £500 from Sports for Schools on Monday to help save the club from closure at its temporary site at Wandle Valley School, Carshalton.

Sports for Schools stepped in after hearing of the funding crisis at the SSG, which has warned unless it finds secure funding for a permanent facility soon, it will probably close.

The club has produced some of Britain's top athletes, who have competed at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and its closure would be a sad loss for British gymnastics.

Co-owner of Sports for Schools and budding Olympian, Ben Brown, 22, himself a member of the SSG, nearly quit the sport because of a lack of funding, despite being used as the poster pin-up boy for London's 2012 Olympic bid.

It took sponsorship from an online gambling company to tempt him back, which Brown does not believe should be allowed to happen again.

"It's not just gymnastics, the situation is the same in almost every minority sport. Any sport not getting media coverage doesn't get enough funding."

Sports for Schools is a fundraising initiative owned and run by Demetrios Bradshaw and Ben Brown.

They travel around the country with celebrity athletes encouraging school children to participate in sport.

On their books are top gymnasts, including Beth Tweddle, a candidate for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, and Ross Brewer, reigning British Champion, who also trains at SSG.

Mr Bradshaw said: "Sports for Schools hopes the £500 will help SSG financially with regard to any new equipment that is needed to provide a better facility than is currently in place."

Top day with Ben on the mat

PUPILS at Coopersale Hall School, Epping, took part in a Sports for School challenge with the help of Great Britain gymnast Ben Brown who demonstrated his skills.

The money raised will go towards PE equipment for the Flux's Lane school and gymnasts preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.

PE teacher Adrian Robinson said: "The children all had a fantastic morning and were motivated by Ben's rousing display."