DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes is to visit the Isle of Man on May 26 as part of a fundraising event for The Children’s Centre.
Dame Kelly won gold in the 800 and 1500 metres at the 2004 Games in Athens, the high point of a glittering career on the track. She has become an inspirational figure reaching an audience far beyond the sporting arena due to her determination to overcome a series of injuries which for many years blighted her attempts to win Olympic gold.
But at 34-years-old - an age when many athletes would be hanging up their running spikes - she finally achieved the glory that her talent and hard work deserved and became a British sporting icon in the process.
She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 and in the same year was voted Laureus World Sports Woman of the Year which added to her BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2004.
In a year in which the Isle of Man will host the Commonwealth Youth Games her visit is timely as Dame Kelly is President of Commonwealth Games England as well as being a double Commonwealth Games 1500 metres gold medallist having won in Victoria in 1994 and Manchester in 2002.
The athletics superstar is now the UK’s National Sports Champion and through her work with her own charity, The DKH Legacy Trust, creates life chances for young people who are inspired by first class sports performers like herself. She also continues to support a number of other charities including the Variety Club of Great Britain, The Prince’s Trust and the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme.
Dame Kelly’s visit to the Island will begin with her meeting and greeting the management and staff of independent trust and corporate services provider SMP Partners who are are sponsoring her trip. In the afternoon she will be the guest of The Children’s Centre and her visit will culminate with a black tie dinner at Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club where Dame Kelly will be the guest of honour.
“We are delighted to sponsor the visit to the Isle of Man of such an outstanding personality,” said Mark Denton, managing director of SMP Partners.
“Not only will we all be keen to hear how Dame Kelly made history at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, but also to learn about her post-athletics career, her charity work and her involvement with the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. She is a true inspiration whose example shows how you can achieve your goals and dreams.”
SMP Partners has been a loyal supporter of The Children’s Centre in recent years. In 2009 the company sponsored a fundraising visit by Olympic champion yachtsman Ben Ainslie and continuously supports many fundraising events throughout the year such as the Adventure Team Challenge and Race the Sun.
John Knight, Chief Executive of The Children’s Centre, said, “We’re delighted that we have been able to secure such a high profile guest as Dame Kelly Holmes and bring her to the Island for the first time.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the continued support we enjoy from SMP Partners. I’m sure the business community will come out and support this event as they did with previous guests including Ben Ainslie.”
Tables for 10 or 12 guests at the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club black-tie dinner on May 26 can be booked by contacting Michelle O’Malley, Fundraising Manager at The Children’s Centre, on 631919 or by emailing fundraising@thechildrenscentre.org.im
