MADRID, 10 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The British Victoria Pendleton, one of the best track cyclists in the history of her country, Olympic champion in Beijing and London 2012 and silver also in the games in the capital of the United Kingdom, participated this weekend in an act of Kind Surf in Valencia on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
With the purpose of celebrating the power of the Kind Surf to change the lives of young people throughout Spain, the event, organized in collaboration with the Great campaign of the British embassy in Spain, Victoria Pendleton joined the co -founder of Kind Surf, Almudena Fernández, to celebrate the inspiring work of this project in Valencia.
Founded in 2012 by Almudena Fernández and one of the best surfers in Spain, Artiz Aranburu, Kind Surf uses surf therapy in places of Valencia and Zarautz to support young people at risk of social exclusion due to intellectual disabilities.
In the last ten years, more than 1,500 young people have benefited from their sessions. The Kind Surf team includes therapeutic surf instructors, occupational therapists, professional surfers, coordinators and psychologists, who provide holistic support to the young people to whom the program reaches.
Kind Surf believes that, as each wave is different, surfing can release stress, foster trust and help participants regulate their emotions identifying them and face them, and is one of the six world -based sports programs for development preselected by 2025 by the Laureus Awards.
Recognized for the 69 legends of the World Academy of Laureus for their exceptional work to change the lives of disadvantaged young people through the power of sport, the winner of the award will be announced on the 25th anniversary of the Laureus ceremony, which will be held again, for the second consecutive year, in Madrid on April 21.
The British embassy in Spain has been associated with Laureus Sport for Good to organize this event, the last one of a one -year campaign called GAME GAMECHANGERS, designed to promote the fundamental British values of inclusion, diversity and equality in sport.
The campaign has brought together athletes and influential people to create connections and demonstrate that what happens outside the pitch also matters. His main message is to accept the difference and be a ‘Gamechanger’.
As part of the collaboration between Laureus Sport for Good and the British embassy in Spain, those responsible for the ‘The Wave Project’ program, which uses sport to improve the lives of young people who suffer from mental health problems in England, also participated in the session.
Victoria Pendleton subtaned the work that Kind Surf is doing to “return hope” to young Valencians at risk through surfing, especially after the “devastating floods” that ravaged the region at the end of last year by the Dana.
“It is incredible. Sport has enormous power to unite people with the same objective, and I have been lucky enough to personally experience the benefits of surf therapy since I retired from cycling, so it has been great to know and learn about the work that Almudena and Kind Surf are doing. Laureus supports.
For his part, Almudena Fernández, co -founder of Kind Surf, stressed that it was an “incredible honor” to receive Victoria Pendleton in Spain on International Women’s Day. “I am greatly proud that Kind Surf has been recognized by Laureus and included in the list of finalists of Laureus Sport for Good Award. Laureus values are similar to mine, and firmly believe in the power that the sport can have to change the lives of young people. That’s why we create Kind Surf,” he explained.
Fernández celebrated that, if through surfing and the power of sport, they can change lives and raise awareness about climatic problems, they will be “marking a lasting difference.”
Likewise, the British ambassador to Spain, Sir Álex Ellis, acknowledged that he was “inspiring” to share a few hours with the boys who participated in the initiative in Valencia.
“His enthusiasm on the table reflects how sport empowers and unites those who practice them. From the embassy, we want ‘Gamechangers’ to contribute to the inclusive sport being the norm and not the exception,” Ellis added.