Leicestershire First has celebrated its first anniversary by presenting its second annual Special Judges’ Award to an athlete in this month’s Special Olympics in Leicester. Winners of all ten Leicestershire First Awards to date gathered at County Hall today [July 3 2009] to mark the Awards’ first year.
The basketball player Lee Penfold, 27, has chosen the Leicester and District Special Olympics Basketball Club to receive his £3,000 prize money. Lee, who has autism, said joining the club “changed my life”.
Lee, of Hinckley, is not only playing a sporting role at the Special Olympics for the East Midlands team, he is also an ambassador for the games and is the athletes’ representative on the Games Organising Committee. The Special Olympics begin in Leicester on July 25, when Lee will lead out the East Midlands team at the Walkers Stadium for the opening ceremony.
Leicestershire First has now given ten awards with total prize funds of £30,000 which has gone to 12 Leicestershire charities. Each winner of a Leicestershire First Award is required to donate the prize to a local charity or charities of their choice.
All the winners from the first year of Leicestershire First – and representatives of their benefitting charities - gathered at a ceremony at Count Hall today (July 3 2009) to witness Lee receiving his award and to look back at what has been achieved over the past year.
Lee was presented with his award by Leicestershire First founder and trustee Vivien Thompson, at the ceremony hosted by the broadcaster Martyn Lewis. Lee said: “Winning the Leicestershire First Award is something special. It demonstrates that nothing should prevent someone from fulfilling their potential, no matter what obstacles are in the way.”
Lee has played basketball since he was 16 when a family friend encouraged him to have a go. He has excelled at the sport; rising from club level to representing the district, the East Midlands and Great Britain, winning a hatful of medals along the way, including a silver at the Special Olympics World Games in China in 2007.
Lee, who is a PE teacher mentor at Ellesmere College in Leicester, said: “Although I have a learning disability I do feel that I have shown through my efforts and example in sport, both on and off the field of play, that people with learning difficulties can make a positive contribution to society.”
Lee praised Leicester and District Special Olympics Basketball Club: “Sport has changed my life like I never thought possible and my journey started with the support and care of my coach Roger Sharpe and my friends at the club. I will always be grateful for their encouragement and belief in my ability.”
Special Olympics games director Steve Humphries said: “What makes Lee’s story extra special is the burning ambition and desire to do more than just compete. His is an exceptional sportsman with an extraordinary desire to help and inspire others.”
Ted Cassidy, chair of Leicester’s Special Olympics, said: “He is, without doubt, a fantastic role model. Lee’s warm and caring nature also makes him a firm favourite with other Special Olympics athletes. He is always willing to help and assist in any way to ensure everybody is happy and relaxed.”
Roger Sharpe, Lee’s coach, said the £3,000 Leicestershire First prize money will make a huge difference to the club: “£3,000 is tremendously significant to the club. Going into a major games like this is costing our club £9,000 so this money from Leicestershire First is a real helping hand for our 24 players to take part.”
Leicestershire First is a charitable trust, set up and funded by Leicestershire residents Maurice and Vivien Thompson, to reward and promote the values of leadership, excellence and citizenship in the county. Mr Thompson, the current High Sheriff of Leicestershire, said: “Lee is an inspirational athlete and a wonderful ambassador for Leicestershire, for the Special Olympics and for all who face challenges in their lives.
“The Leicestershire First Awards have uncovered a wonderful array of committed people who simply make life in Leicestershire better for their fellow citizens. The Awards go into their second year with great excitement about what amazing Leicestershire people we will discover next.”
The next Leicestershire First Awards:
Five awards will be awarded in 2009/10:
· Volunteering
· Community Builder
· Citizenship
· Young Achiever
· Judges’ Special Award
For details of how to nominate someone for a future Leicestershire First Award, call Leicestershire First on 0116 258 7328 or visit the website www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk where you can discover previous winners’ stories by watching short films made by the Media Trust / Community Channel.
The Leicestershire First winners to date:
June 2008: Judges’ Special Award winner Helen Collins donated her prize to the children’s cancer ward at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and to the Towersey Foundation’s appeal to fund a music therapist at Rainbows children’s hospice in Loughborough.
November 2008: Environment Award winner Ralph Johnson donated his prize to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
December 2008: Young Achiever winner Kirsty Dunkley donated her prize to Open Door Leicester.
January 2009: Community Builder Award winner Ruth Wragg donated her prize to Coping with Cancer in Leicestershire and Rutland.
March 2009: Leadership Award winners Rama and Sujata Bhalla donated their prize to www.givingworldonline.com
March 2009: Volunteering Award winner Stuart Berry donated his prize to PROSTaid.
April 2009: Achievement in Sport winner Ismail Saleh donated his prize to Wishes 4 Kids and the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s Appeal for the 2009 Special Olympic Games.
June 2009: Achievement in Arts and Music winner Tony Graves donated his prize to PROSTaid and to the Leicester Children’s Hospital.
July 2009: Courage Award winner Michael Higgs donated his prize to the Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital, in Kibworth.