On Saturday 6th August 2016, Carnegie Smyth – Managing Director of Signia Wealth and Trustee of Sported – departed Belfast on his bike.
Ten days, ten sports, 1000km of hard riding, countless hills, numerous rain showers and over £35,000 raised in aid of Sported later, he finally finished his epic ’10:10:1000 Challenge’ in style, as he rode into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on Monday afternoon [15 August].
Money raised by Carnegie from the ‘10:10:1000 Challenge’ will help Sported continue its work supporting the growth and sustainability of over 3,000 community groups across the UK. All of which use the power of sport to broaden horizons, raise aspirations and develop the life skills of disadvantaged young people.
To see first-hand the impact of his fundraising efforts, during his 1000km ride Carnegie paid a special visit to ten Sported-supported projects across the UK. Whilst there he got the opportunity to meet the inspirational volunteers and staff of community sport and learn about their challenges operating on, often, shoe-string budgets.
The ten Sported member visits also gave Carnegie the opportunity to participate in a range of sporting activities with the young people from the various clubs, from boxing and horse carriage driving to sailing and basketball.
The tenth and final challenge saw Carnegie join FRE Flyers in East London for a game of hockey at their home at the Lee Valley Tennis and Hockey Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Carnegie Smyth, Managing Director of Signia Wealth, said: “Visiting community groups across the UK, I have seen first-hand the power of sport to motivate and inspire young people. The volunteer and staff which work so hard to run these groups and give young people in their community unique opportunities to develop are truly inspirational, and it’s been a real privilege to share their company over the last ten days.
He concludes: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank every Sported member that has hosted me, all the young people that I’ve met and allowed me to join their sessions and, finally to everyone that has sponsored me so far. Sported is a fantastic charity and seeing their work in action has been awe-inspiring.”
Olympic Gold medallist, Chris Boardman, said: “Congratulations on your epic journey. I’m very passionate about the power of sport to help young people and bring communities together, and I look forward to hearing about your adventures when I return from describing Team GB’s triumphs in Rio”.
Sir Keith Mills, founder of Sported and former Deputy Chairman of LOCOG, said: “Sported was born out of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it’s a fitting end for Carnegie to cross the finish line at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He’s done tremendously well, not just cycling 1000km in ten days, but raising such a significant amount of money to support Sported’s work with community sport groups across the UK.”
To donate to Carnegie’s 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/sported/carnegie10101000
To read Carnegie’s daily blogs from the 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
http://sported.wpengine.com/our-blog/
This summer, whilst the eyes of the world are on Rio de Janerio as the finest athletes come together for 31st Olympiad, one man will be pushing himself to his own physical limits to improve the life chances of thousands of disadvantaged young people.