Olympian marks work of Madeley student

Farrelly was at Birmingham's Paragon Hotel as over 100 young legacy leaders took centre stage to showcase their fantastic work on 'Get Set to Make a Change' last year.

The programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, saw youngsters keep the spirit of London 2012 alive, with 16-year-old Farrelly and Madeley Academy fulfilling their pledge to promote the sport of orienteering in the community.

Their hard work didn't go unnoticed with gymnast Whitlock, who won pommel horse and team bronze at London 2012, as well as double Paralympic table tennis medallist Will Bayley.

They handed Madeley Academy an award to commemorate the youngsters' efforts at a red carpet event.

And after coming up close and personal with two stars of British sport, Farrelly was left pinching himself as to just how far the initiative had taken him and his classmates.

He said: "At our school, our pledge was to promote the sport of orienteering in the local community. It's a unique and different sport that not many people know about but anyone can do it, whether you are walking or running.

"It was a successful event, the year eights and other schools took part in the challenge and they really enjoyed their time.

"From this experience I've become more confident, especially in public speaking which I would never have been able to do before.

"It was a pleasure meeting Max and Will, they are a true inspiration and they have inspired me to move my own sports forward in the future.

"Our new challenge, as the first one was such a success, is to help promote getting people more active in the community through running or walking.

"I'm a runner myself so I'm looking forward to moving it forward with the other legacy leaders."

Whitlock was more than happy to take time out to celebrate Farrelly and Madeley Academy's hard work, adding that the youngsters' efforts are an inspiration.

He said: "It's great to see so many legacy leaders here, keeping the spirit alive from London 2012. The motto from the Olympic Games was inspire a generation and these guys are doing a great job of that.

"As athletes, we try and motivate and inspire youngsters and they are doing that too. It's been great to find out what they have been up to and they are all so enthusiastic which is great to see.

"London 2012 for me was an amazing experience, it definitely was a once in a lifetime experience and I never want to forget that.

"These guys are help pushing it forward and helping to keep the spirit alive with that."

Through GSTMC, the British Olympic Foundation, in conjunction with the British Paralympic Association, is using the spirit of the London Games to re-inspire young people across the UK.

The project is being supported by a £2.5million grant from the Big Lottery Fund's Keeping the Spirit of 2012 Alive campaign.