Local resident Daniel Campion is preparing for the 2015 Baker Hughes 10k with different motivation than most.
Daniel is currently featuring in Channel 4’s ‘The Island with Bear Grylls’ where he and other participants survive in harsh conditions with little to no assistance.
“Episode 3 aired most recently and I’m actually seeing it for the first time myself” Daniel told Sport Aberdeen, “I’ve been away working and didn’t get to see it before it went out to the public. It’s interesting seeing things I didn’t actually see while there and getting different perspectives.”
“There is a certain stigma against young professionals. I was getting close to 30, found myself looking at expensive cars and decided I needed to do something drastic. I loved watching the first series and emailed channel 4 to apply for the next season. My family didn’t quite understand. There was over 100,000 applicants so I couldn’t believe it when they phone me say ‘this just got real!’ “
After losing 3 stone while on The Island, Daniel returned to Aberdeen where he recovered. But after passing the threshold he soon found himself to be heavier than before he left.
“I went back to the gym where I mostly enjoy deadlifts. But Friends of Anchor got in touch and offered me the space for the 10K. I’ve worked with them in the past so I was delighted to represent them. But it also gave me a target to work towards, rather than casual exercise”
While challenges and races are not alien to Daniel this will be his first Baker Hughes 10K and is not underestimating the challenge.
“I’ve done Tough Mudder 4 times and various other challenges, but I think I will find this quite tough. I’m not really a runner but having something to work towards will help me shift the weight.”
Friends of Anchor are delighted to have Daniel as part of their race team. They work tirelessly to ensure their cancer and haematology care is the best it can be.
“On top of my personal goals, I’m running for a great charity. It would be very easy to have ran myself where I could fail, let myself down and that would be ok. But I can’t let Anchor down and that inspires me even more.”
Friends of ANCHOR is committed to raising funds for crucial investments into non-NHS diagnostic and surgical equipment, patient wellbeing services and initiatives and local, ground-breaking cancer research projects led by top clinicians at the University of Aberdeen.
If you would like to take part in this year’s 10K our charities still have spaces.
For a list of charities contact information including Friends of Anchor visit:
www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/events/baker-hughes-10k/charities/
Photos Courtesy of The Press and Journal.
As a company and a charity, Sport Aberdeen aim to be the employer of choice by providing an environment that successfully attracts, develops and retains talent.
This also means offering opportunities to people from varying backgrounds regardless of age, experience or disability. While this has been highlighted in our Modern Apprentice Scheme, the first of its kind in Scotland, Sport Aberdeen regularly offer further opportunities to students.
Most recently, we had the pleasure of having Timothy Neil and Clare Fyfe from Robert Gordon University applying their knowledge and enhancing their experience with us.
Tim has cerebral palsy which makes mobility and writing a challenge for him. However this did not stop him from impressing during his interview and delivering great work throughout his placement.
“My role involved coming in and looking at Sport Aberdeen’s communication strategy and suggesting potential improvements.
One of the main benefits for me was definitely the fact that all of my suggestions were always taken on board and considered fairly. I was never told that one of my suggestions was rubbish. In fact, I saw many of my suggestions being implemented and considered by the organisation by the end of my placement which gave me a great sense of pride.”
“However, the main benefit for was was the feeling I got when I opened up the Grampian Disability Sport newsletter that was finished after my placement period and saw many of the articles I had worked on featured in the newsletter. This gave me a great sense of pride in my work as I know not all placement students will get the opportunity to see that work used in an official context. This made me feel absolutely fantastic and further confirmed that my work was valuable to you as an organisation.”
Clare also impressed during her time with Sport Aberdeen and her six week placement was a great success. She worked tirelessly during working hours and was always willing to assist out with them.
“I really enjoyed my experience with Sport Aberdeen. My main project was working on the customer feedback process for all the services and venues, which has helped me to develop my research and presentation skills.
I was also involved with an international Taekwon-Do event which gave me a new insight into events. Sport Aberdeen offers so many different services that there is always a way for everyone go get involved, whatever their skills and knowledge.”
Cases like these prove how hard work and graft are invaluable when developing for future employment and also the importance of experience in a working environment.
Sport Aberdeen would like to thank both Tim and Clare for their help and wish them the best of luck with their studies and future.
Following their success in the Commonwealth Games, the Scottish Thistles are taking a roadshow around Scotland and will be in Aberdeen tomorrow, Saturday 6 December.
After making their Games debut, the Thistles came ninth, beating their pre-Games ranking of 11th in the world netball rankings – a huge achievement as they were pitched against netball teams of international standing such as New Zealand.
The sport’s governing body, Netball Scotland, aims to build on the legacy of Glasgow 2014 by promoting the Thistles through a roadshow.
The Thistles will deliver coaching and matches at the roadshows, and there will opportunities for fans to ask questions as well as for photographs and autographs.
Lesley MacDonald, who captained the team during the Games, said: “Scottish Netball has just experienced the most exciting and intense summer of sport this country has ever seen.
“The Scottish Thistles competed against the best netball teams and athletes in the world at the Commonwealth Games.
“Each match was watched by sell-out crowds, who roared the Thistles on.
“We now want to build on that legacy through the roadshows to give aspiring young players the opportunity to meet the role models of their sport and inspire the next generation of netballers throughout the country.”
At Aberdeen’s Alex Collie Sport Centre, 40 primary school children will attend a training session led by some of the Thistles on Saturday 6 December, 3pm-4.15pm, followed by a session for secondary age children at 4.30pm-6pm. On Sunday 7 December, 9am-12pm, there will be a full Scottish Thistles session with 35 coaches watching the session, which will be delivered by the national coaching team.
Maggie Mallon
Press Officer, Netball Scotland
07989 962 465/0141 423 8500
Email: maggie.mallon@btconnect.com
The Beach Leisure Centre will host a Les Mills sampler class extravaganza on Sunday the 11th of January.
Eleven different classes will occur throughout the day with each class running in 30 minute sessions. Sport Aberdeen Fitness Members and non-members will both have access to the event.
These classes include Sh’bam, GRIT Cardio, Body Pump and more, all of which will help you kick start your fitness in 2015. See below for a timetable.
Non-members can pay just £2.90 per class or sample every routine for just £15.
A membership costs just £25 and gives access to 9 Gyms, 8 Pools, over 50 different Fitness Classes and the Linx Ice Arena.
Fitness members can have free access to these samplers all day, so with the addition of our Health and Wellness Advisors and the January draw for a years free membership, there has never been a better time to sign up for a Sport Aberdeen Fitness Membership.
“Operation Santa” will be skating into Aberdeen this December and looks set to thrill audiences with some dazzling performances and choreography.
A fantastic piece, “Operation Santa” is sure to be a winning day out.
The show will take place at the Linx ice arena on Sunday 14th December, with 3 performances throughout the day at 11.30am, 3pm and 6.30pm.
Featuring the 2014/15 British Senior Ladies Champion, and 7 times Scottish Champion Karly Robertson, the 2014/15 British Junior Ladies Champion Danielle Harrison, 2014/15 Silver Medallist from the British Senior Ladies Championships Michelle Callison and 2014/15 Bronze Medallist from the British Senior Ladies Championships, the production will also feature local Aberdeen skating talent supported by a cast from the Learn to Skate programme and local skating clubs.
The show is being staged by Ice Coaching Elite in conjunction with Sport Aberdeen.
Premium Seating tickets for “Operation Santa” are priced at £15 per Adult and £12 for children and concessions. All other unreserved seating tickets are priced at £12 for adults and £9 for children and concessions.
For more information, or to buy tickets please contact Aberdeen Box Office on Tel: 01224 641122 or visit http://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/events/operation-santa