It is the stuff which Hollywood blockbuster films are made of. The hero overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles to win the day, thanks to his determination and the support of his friends and family.
For long-jumper Greg Rutherford, his Olympic dream finally came true on Saturday night when he took a leap and landed a gold medal at the London 2012 Games. Amongst his emotional thank you’s on BBC TV was a special mention of the Rotary club which has supported him in his training, the Rotary Club of Bedford Park. Also mentioned was club member Ian Bullerwell who mentored Greg and sought funding from many other sources.
The club first met Greg in 2008, shortly after his Beijing dream had come to an end. Plagued by injuries, he missed out on a podium place. The Rotary Club of Bedford Park saw someone with great potential and, being keen supporters of sport in the community, decided to support him through sponsorship and mentoring.
One club member who has worked closely with Greg is Brendan McNulty: "We are a fairly young club and very much involved with sports. We went to a demo and thought he was an affable chap and took him under our wing. He’s a great sportsman, very focused.
"Seeing him win the medal on Saturday was very humbling. We are immensely proud of Greg. As a club, we think sport in community and gold medals inspire young people to get out on the track, on a bike and on the hockey pitch and help people to be fitter."
The club rallied around Greg to raise the much needed sponsorship through dinners and other events. The support went beyond money and Greg found a club full of friends and supporters who believed he could find the podium place he deserved.
Inspired? Discover your local Rotary club and find out how you can make a difference in your community. Rotary is for communities, whether at home or overseas. Contact your local club and meet like-minded people.
