Paralympic wheelchair athlete David Weir, from Wallington, was at Purley Downs Golf Club on Saturday to receive a cheque for £5,691-20 from men’s captain Jerry Scola for the Weir Archer Academy.
The cheque presentation represented the culmination of fundraising throughout the year for the captain’s charity.
Mr Scola said he chose the charity because: “I have some very good friends that have a daughter, Olivia, who has cerebral palsy. She is also profoundly deaf and visually impaired. I first met Olivia when she was six years old, but I witnessed a massive transformation in her life after she joined the Weir Archer Academy in 2014. It gave her something to focus on, and I watched her build in confidence and self-esteem and today she is ranked no1 at 400m and no 2 at 100/200 & 800 in her category. She has also gone on to win the Mirror Pride of Sportsperson young Sportsperson of the year, rubbing shoulders with Harry Kane and Laurence Dallagio at the same awards. Without the Weir Archer Academy, none of this would have been possible.”
The academy was set up in 2013, but came to light after David Weir’s four gold medal haul at the London Paralympics in 2014. David ‘The Weir Wolf’’ also holds a record eight London Marathon victories and is soon to compete in his 20th consecutive London race.
Jenny Archer – MBE, is Weir’s coach. Jenny has previously worked as the fitness coach at Wimbledon FC during the ‘Crazy Gang” era, but has now coached athletes to over 30 medals at Para athletics major championships.
The goal of the Academy is not only to nurture the next generation of para athletes, but to help improve their wellbeing in a family orientated environment, bringing together parents, family members and friends along with a number of key supporters.