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My Story: Matty Rayson

Hi I'm Matty Rayson, I'm 13 years old and a Sports Leader from Newcastle who recently helped out at a Rowing Event organised by The Tony Blair Sports Foundation. I was extremely lucky to be a part of this fantastic event and wanted to let everyone know how much fun, enjoyment and satisfaction helping out and volunteering your time can be.

At first I didn't really know what The Tony Blair Sports Foundation was so I researched the foundation on the internet and learned how the foundation does all kinds of things with sports and what they do to help encourage more kids to get into sport. Hopefully when I'm a bit older I can become of a member of the foundation!

In the meantime I will continue to be a sports leader of which I have been since the start of Year 7. It all started when my P.E teacher asked some students if we would like to help teach orienteering games to primary school children.

I now help out a lot at Percy Hedley which is a school for disabled children in North Tyneside. Luckily it is very close to my own school (Killingworth) and my home so I don't have far to walk. At the minute I help out 5 days a week.

Recently, because of the work I do with Percy Hedley students, I was nominated for a North Tyneside Sports award. There were more than 20 nominees and I was short-listed in the top three. It was a great night but unfortunately I didn't win. The bright side was that I didn't walk away empty handed as you can see in the picture.

Recently I attended a disability development afternoon at Tynemouth Swimming club. I was born with fingers missing on both of my hands but my own disability has never stopped me doing anything in sport or in life and I have now become a member of the swimming club.

I think I am a sporty guy even if I don't look like it and I want to carry on all the things I do. At the minute I am trying to get my Sports Leaders Certificate. Then hopefully in three years time when I am 16 I will get my Level 1 Sports Leaders Award, hopefully with help from The Tony Blair Sports Foundation. I am definitely going to carry this on, as when I am older I want to be a P.E Teacher. I know that this is going to be hard but I am sure I can do it.

I would like to thank the Tony Blair Sports Foundation for giving me this opportunity to write my story. Also thanks to my family and friends who have supported me all the way and especially to the P.E Department at George Stephenson High School for all their encouragement. Thank you for all these WONDERFUL opportunities!

Thanks for reading

Matty