Local resident wins award for only London disability hockey group
On Friday 4th May, Proactive London’s star studded ‘Sport and Physical Activity Awards’ were hosted at the Kia Oval to celebrate a hugely successful year of Sport in London in the build up to the Olympics in July.
With over 550 nominations for the awards and an audience of 240 including various internationals and Olympic medal winners, it was a great occasion, opening with an emotive speech from commonwealth silver and bronze medallist Adrian Turner and closing with some inspirational thoughts from Olympic title hope Anthony Joshua.
Pani Theodorou, who lives in Edmonton, won the award for “Active and Inclusive Ambassador” for setting up the first Pan-Disability hockey club in the South of England and bringing in over 20 volunteers from the local community to ensure that the sessions run successfully. The sessions have been running since November, and have already seen over 25 participants from all over London enjoying the free weekly hockey activities.
Pani said after receiving her award “I felt so honoured to be shortlisted for this award, so to win is something I’m extremely proud of. And it’s made me even more determined to do more. The hockey sessions we’ve been running have been a big hit, and we want to continue to grow the sessions and get even more kids there – that will be my biggest reward. These sessions couldn’t have happened without support of our amazing partners and volunteers, who have thrown themselves into this with boundless enthusiasm and energy. All of them share in this award with me.”
Forest Flyerz hockey sessions are for young people with disabilities, aged 8-18. Sessions are free and are open to all, on Tuesdays 7-8pm during term-time, at Walthamstow Academy. For more information visit www.walthamforesthc.co.uk/flyerz