AN old boy who used running to fight back from injury, help his girlfriend overcome cancer and raise thousands of pounds for charity has been inspiring athletes at his former school.
Ex-Longfield School pupil Lewis Moses returned to his home town of Darlington to present a host of sporting accolades to academy students.
Since 2003 the Team GB middle distance runner has trained with the world’s best athletes including double Olympic Champion Mo Farah and celebrated athlete Paula Radcliffe.
He told an audience of staff, students and family at the Dolphin Centre that sport had given him the best opportunities in life and helped him overcome some of the worst.
“Everything was going right in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics Games,” he said. “Then I sustained a serious injury that put me out of the running and my girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer.
“I could not believe at the age of 25 we were having to deal with something like this but it was running that saved us. My fiancée underwent six months of chemotherapy, lost her hair and weight.
“I was injured but we were determined to keep running, we managed to do the Great North Run and raised £15,000 for charity, which is one of our proudest achievements to date. This shows how powerful sport can be.”
Now in training for the World Indoor Championships in Portland, America, the European Championships and the next Olympic Games in Rio, Lewis urged students always to aim high in life.
He presented awards for a host of disciplines including athletics, badminton, boxing, cricket, cycling, cross-country, dance, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rollerskating, rounders, rugby, skiing, swimming, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball.
Students participated at school, club, regional and national level in both team and individual events.
Guests also enjoyed a demonstration of dance by Chloe Shutt and table tennis by Erin Greensmith and Georgina Peart.
Head teacher Susan Johnson said: “The young people receiving awards represent the best in what has been an excellent year at Longfield. Pupils take part in a wide variety of sports both in lessons and by attending clubs and I would like to thank staff, parents and carers for supporting them.
“Our pupils take part in an extensive range of sports and learn many beneficial skills that help them become successful learners, including team-work, participation and celebrating achievement. Sport is a significantly important part of what we do at Longfield and this is why I am so proud of all our pupils.”
Director of sport Keith Gilbertson added: “The pupils always perform with energy, enthusiasm, and determination in whatever challenge they face.”