Pupils from Bedford Academy in Bedford are to spend the day with former BMX world champion Mike Mullen tomorrow (January 25) as part of Sky Sports Living for Sport.
Mullen's visit is part of a free secondary schools initiative delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, which uses sports stars and sports skills to boost confidence, change behaviours, increase attainment and improve life skills.
Pupils who have been selected by their teachers to take part in the initiative will have the chance to share with Mullen the activities they have been involved with as part of the school's Sky Sports Living for Sport project.
During the session Mullen will also share with the class his own story of overcoming difficulties to excel in BMX and will instil in pupils the value of using Sky Sports Living for Sport's Six Keys to Success to improve their lives.
These are:
mental toughness
hunger to achieve
people skills
sports and life knowledge
breaking barriers
planning for success.
As a highly successful athlete, Mike Mullen joins a team of 23 Athlete Mentors for Sky Sports Living for Sport. Each has been selected as a representative due to their own inspiring success story, having overcome issues as varied as recurring injury, disability or a deprived background.
He said: "I'm honoured to be part of Sky Sports Living for Sport, which is delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, and to have the chance to meet pupils in schools such as Bedford Academy.
"The young people I meet and the teachers that support them are truly inspirational. I hope that by sharing my story and discussing the positive role that sport has played in my own life that I can inspire young people to improve their lives through sport. Different sports inspire different people but there's a sport for everyone and it can change your life."
Michael Cox, Community Development Leader at Bedford Academy, said: "After many weeks of hard work and determination, our pupils are very excited about sharing their achievements with Mike Mullen.
"His visit will give our pupils a real life example of the power of sport to change lives and show them that sport can help them find the confidence and build the skills to reach their goals.
"We are proud to welcome such an inspiring sports star to our school, and our young people look forward to his visit with great anticipation."
With the help of online planning tools, resources and a supply of free sports clothing, Sky Sports Living for Sport has benefitted 35,000 young people in over 1,500 schools since the programme began in 2003.This year 750 schools across the UK will benefit from a visit from a Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor.
