Bronze Programme with Laura Sugar and students from Cranford CE Primary School - October 2021

Laura Sugar, our fantastic Ambassador and Paralympic Gold Medallist in para-canoeing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, motivated pupils at Cranford C of E Primary School as part of a fantastic Bronze Mintridge Programme, which included inspirational presentations and classroom visits, alongside action-packed coaching sessions!

Laura began the day with an insightful presentation covering her sporting career across athletics, hockey, and para-canoeing, including how her late entry to the sport at 27 years old did not stop her from earning a gold medal at Tokyo! Laura also encouraged students to keep an open mind towards new opportunities, particularly given what other prospects might develop from these.

A key takeaway for students was Laura’s tenacious and positive mentality when faced with new challenges. This attitude sets her apart from others, as at each obstacle life has thrown at her, Laura has always been able to overcome them, which has paved her path towards such a successful sporting career.  

The students then got the opportunity to participate in coaching sessions led by Laura, with fun and challenging exercises that demonstrated some of the exercises athletes and canoeists undertake to build their strength. During classroom visits across the day, pupils were also able to practice their paddling technique with Laura’s winning blades!

During these visits, students could ask Laura questions about her career, some of the best of which were:

How did you feel when you won the race in Tokyo?

Do you watch the other competitors during a race, or do you focus entirely on yourself?

Did you realise how far ahead you were of the other competitors when you won?

Do you have any rituals before a race?

Who inspired you?

How often do you train?

How hard is it to steer a boat? Do you ever fall into the water?

How many international races have you won?

What material is your paddle made from?

It was heart-warming to see the enthusiasm and interest of the students throughout their day with Laura. Everyone received a signed autograph card and in each session, one student who particularly stood out for their participation and effort received a medal, certificate, and a goodie bag.  

Laura and Team Mintridge had an amazing day with staff and students at Cranford C E Primary School, and we can’t wait to visit again soon with another of our brilliant Ambassadors!

Cranford C E Primary School was also visited by BBC Look East and the Northamptonshire Telegraph on the day, who were keen to find out more about Laura’s incredible journey and how she intends to inspire others. To find out what they had to say, you can head to the Northamptonshire Telegraph website to read about the day and to the BBC Look East website to watch their coverage of the students and Laura in action!

If you are interested in a virtual or physical Programme with Laura Sugar or any of our other inspirational Ambassadors, then please get in touch via the Mintridge website at www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk or with Katie at katie@mintridge.org.uk.

Team Mintridge

The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities, and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.

Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as FitSwarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.

The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.

To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, please contact Alex Wallace.

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