Strength was visible in all its shapes and sizes at SportsAid’s sporting lunch at Dorney Lake, the 2012 Olympic venue, on 5^th November, sponsored by Leap.

Leap aims to improve the lives of Bucks’ and Milton Keynes’ residents through physical activity and sport. Earlier this year, Leap’s grant funded our mixed martial arts programme for 16-25 year olds.

At the lunch,  our CEO Hannah met other charities and good causes who are reaching young people through sport and physical activity. She heard GB Paralympian Louise Sugden speak about the strength she’d found to lift 131kg in Tokyo. And she witnessed professional footballer and manager Paul Merson’s strength in speaking candidly about his gambling addiction. “I’ve been addicted to alcohol and cocaine, but the most destructive and only one I’m still struggling with is gambling.”
“Listening to Paul reminded me that on the outside, it can look like we’re doing so well,” said Hannah. “600 professional appearances, including 21 caps for England and yet Paul lost everything he’d ever had eventually – close to £7 million, including houses, cars, marriages, his entire pension and his self-respect”.

We work with any vulnerable 13-25 year olds in Aylesbury Vale who face barriers to living their best lives – including addictions. Every Tuesday, 3-6pm, Switch Bucks run a drop-in session at our site, helping young people to make healthy choices around alcohol and drugs.

Pictured above : Youth Concern CEO Hannah Asquith, Leap CEO Mark Ormerod and GB Paralympian Louise Sugden