Liverpool motivational speaker Andy Grant is offering his time free to schools throughout October as part of a fundraising drive ahead of his latest challenge – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The former Royal Marine and record-breaking athlete has spent the past ten years sharing his extraordinary story of resilience, determination and overcoming adversity with audiences across the UK.
Now Andy wants to take that message into as many schools as possible, encouraging young people to understand that setbacks do not have to define their future and helping equip the next generation with the mindset to face whatever life throws at them.
Throughout October, he will waive his usual speaking fee and is appealing to headteachers, teachers, governors and anyone involved with a school to invite him to speak to their pupils.
In return, schools are asked to make a minimum donation of £150 to his JustGiving campaign, raising money for the Sedulo Foundation and the AGS Foundation.
And the invitation isn’t just for schools. Parents who would like Andy to speak at their child’s school can make the £150 donation themselves and gift the talk to the school. Local businesses or individuals can also sponsor a talk for a school, with additional donations to the fundraising campaign welcomed.
Andy said:
“Young people today will all face challenges at some point in their lives. We can’t necessarily prepare them for what those challenges will be, but we can help give them the mindset and resilience to deal with them when they come.
“If sharing my story helps even one young person realise that a setback doesn’t have to determine where their life goes next, then it’s worth doing.
“That’s why throughout October I’m offering my time to schools without my usual speaking fee. All I ask is for a minimum £150 donation to the fundraising campaign and I’ll come and speak to your pupils.
“And if you’re a parent who thinks your child’s school would benefit from the talk, you can make the donation and gift the talk to them. Equally, if you’re a local business or individual and want to sponsor a talk for a school, I’d love to hear from you. Every additional donation will help us raise even more.”
Andy was just 20 when he was seriously injured by an IED while serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan in 2009.
After numerous operations and years of rehabilitation, he made the life-changing decision to have his injured leg amputated.
Andy went on to win two gold medals at the inaugural Invictus Games and set a world record over 10K for a below-the-knee amputee.
He has since built a successful career as a motivational speaker, using his experiences to demonstrate that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can influence what happens next.
Andy is now preparing to travel to Tanzania to attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, while raising money for two charities whose work closely reflects the values behind his latest challenge.
The Sedulo Foundation helps young people affected by poverty and disadvantage access opportunities, while the AGS Foundation is a grant-making charitable foundation providing relief to people in need as a result of physical disability or long-term injury.
Andy added:
“Kilimanjaro is going to push me physically and mentally, but that’s part of the reason I’m doing it.
“I want young people to see that whatever happens in life, you can keep moving forward, keep setting goals and keep challenging yourself.
“So if you work in a school, have children at a school or simply want to give young people an experience that could make a difference, get in touch. Together we can inspire them while raising money to help others too.”
Schools, parents, businesses or individuals interested in arranging or sponsoring one of Andy’s school talks during October can contact andygrantmotivation@gmail.com.
Donations to Andy’s Mount Kilimanjaro fundraising challenge can be made through his JustGiving campaign.
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