Words by Cheyanne Bryan
Today is the day! The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games starts today and we want to kick it off the only way we know how, sharing the charitable efforts of these incredible athletes on the world stage.
Similar to their Olympic counterparts, several Paralympians actively serve as patrons for various charities, using their platforms to promote inclusivity and support important causes. Here are a few notable examples:
Ellie Simmonds is a British Paralympic swimmer born with achondroplasia, which is the most common type of dwarfism. She first appeared on the scene at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, winning two gold medals in freestyle events. Over her career, she has secured four gold medals and numerous accolades, becoming an advocate for disability awareness and inspiring many with her story.
The British swimmer is a patron of The Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSA UK) which is dedicated to promoting sports and physical activity for individuals with dwarfism, fostering inclusion, confidence, and fitness through various sporting events, training sessions, and competitions.
British Paralympic sprinter Jonnie Peacock is known for competing in the T44 classification (for athletes with a single below-the-knee amputation or those who have moderate mobility impairment in one or both legs). He won gold in the 100 metres at the 2012 London Paralympics, setting a world record of 10.90 seconds, and secured another gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
The sprinter is a patron of Meningitis Research Foundation, a charity dedicated to funding vital research for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of meningitis while raising awareness about the disease's impact. This patronage may be surprising to many that know Jonnie’s story as he lost his right leg after contracting meningitis at age 5.
With a whopping 16 medals under her belt, 11 of which are gold, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is a renowned British Paralympic athlete in wheelchair racing across five Paralympic Games. She now serves in the House of Lords and is involved in many many organisations to promote equality, inclusion and independence for people with disabilities.
The legendary wheelchair racer is a patron of many charities including the Guernsey Disability Alliance, Zoe's Place Baby Hospice, a charity for sick babies and young children, and Disability Rights UK.
Megan Giglia is a British para-cyclist who rose to prominence after a 2014 stroke and a brain haemorrhage at age 27. After that, she worked hard in the lead up to the next Paralympic Games which earned her a gold medal in the women's C3 3000m individual pursuit at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Beyond her athletic achievements, she advocates for mental health and the transformative power of sport in recovery.
Megan is a patron of Different Strokes, a charity geared towards supporting younger stroke survivors with various programs, peer support groups, fitness activities, and informational workshops.
Born with a visual impairment, by age 14 Darren Harris had lost his sight completely. Despite this, he pursued a career in sports, excelling in blind football and made it to the Paralympics. He represented Great Britain in blind football tournament but also in judo at the 2008 Paralympics. Harris is celebrated for his work in advocacy, focusing on disability awareness, empowerment and motivational speeches.
Due to his long running relationship and his efforts to raise awareness, Darren is a patron of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and is an ambassador for Motability which aims to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities by promoting mobility and independence.
You can hear Darren and a couple others talk about their experience with accessing the world in this Speak Up Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by_kWgcUU8M
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Change Mental Health. This Scotland-based and compassion-focused charity provides support to people suffering from a variety of mental illnesses. Support them here.
MK ACT. This organisation works in the Milton Keynes area to provide support for more than 100 families daily who are suffering from the rot of domestic violence. Learn more here.
Ambitious about Autism. This charity focuses on making the education system more accessible and accommodating towards children with autism. Read more here.
