The Panathlon Foundation is a sports charity that enables children with disabilities in England to have competitive sporting opportunities. Formed in 1996 by Ashley Iceton, the Panathlon Foundation Ltd, provides sports coaching within schools, sports equipment to schools, sports training to teachers, coaches and young leaders, and sports competitions. Panathlon is aimed at children aged 5 to 19 years with Physical disabilities and Learning Disabilities. They also have a specific visual impairment and deaf program. Panathlon works with SEN schools and SEN units in mainstream schools currently across 27 counties in England in 2015. Panathlon has 6 sports programs: Multi-Sport, Primary Panathlon, Swimming, Football, Impairment Specific, Boccia. The Multi-Sports competition involves the disability specific sports of Table Cricket, Polybat, New Age Kurling, Boccia and adapted Athletics. Football includes U13 and U16 5-a-side football & Girls Only Football. Impairment specific involves Powerchair Athlete Days, Visual Impairment & Deaf coaching & competitions. Boccia includes a partnership with Boccia England to deliver the Lord's Taverners Boccia competitions. In the 2009 academic year Panathlon's work involved 2,500 children in 5 counties in England. By 2015 academic year Panathlon's work involved 7,500 children from 27 counties in England. The charity has six patron, ex-Paralympian's Danny Crates, Liz Johnson, Helen Turner, Steve Brown, current Paralympian Louise Sugden and TV presenter Alex Brooker. Guests at Panathlon competitions include former sports minister Kate Hoey, ex-Paralympian and TV Presenter Giles Long, and a host of Paralympian's, Adam Alderman, Freya Levy, Graham Edmunds, Ben Lampert, Josh Beacham, Tim Prendegast, Dervis Konuralp, Daniel West, Kate Grey, Funders of the Panathlon Foundation include The Jack Petchey Foundation, St James Place Foundation, The Mayor of London, Woodland Group, Peter Harrison Foundation, John Lewis Stratford, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Bulldog Trust, Wembley Stadium Trust, John Lyon's. Funding raising events have included, Woodland Group cycling from London to Paris in May 2014. Jody Cundy along with Danny Crates & Liz Johnson competing in the London Triathlon 2014. Steve Brown replaced Jody Cundy in the London Triathlon 2015 Panathlon Team. Hilton Hotel Stansted hosting virtual 'Around the World in a Day' events. Media Appearances: Panathlon London final was featured on Sky Sports in June 2010. Panathlon Central London Final was featured on BBC1 Breakfast Saturday in April 2013. East England regional final was featured on ITV East Anglia in October 2014. Panathlon have been involved at the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park. 20 Panathlon Athletes from the 5 Olympic London Boroughs raced on the 100 metre track at the London Olympic Stadium Gold Challenge test event in April 2012. From 2014 the London Finals Multi-Sports competition has been at The Copper Box Arena. From 2015 Panathlon's South England Swimming Finals have been hosted by The Olympic Pool. John Lewis Stratford, onlooking the park, have hosted the Panathlon Jack Petchey Outstanding Achievement Award Ceremony since 2012. This awards ceremony contains three prizes: Individual Achievement, Sports Achievement & Outstanding Sports Leader Achievement. Panathlon have another annual Celebration of Individual Talent, their Wembley Stadium Trust Primary Awards. Other notable venues that have hosted Panathlon competitions are Stoke Mandeville Stadium, The NIA Birmingham, Wembley Stadium Powerleague In February 2016 Panathlon celebrated its 20th Anniversary at City Hall with Kate Hoey and five Paralypian's in attendance.
