The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, working with the support of top tier Olympic and Paralympic sponsor GE, was launching a project called "GE Aspiring Minds" to children in the Olympic boroughs which will eventually inspire school children across the UK to aim high and believe in their own ambitions in the same way that Holmes has.

"I'm thrilled that GE is supporting my charity Aspiring Minds programme," said Holmes.

"Aspiring Minds is a programme for young people, helping them to develop the 'can do' attitude, motivation and personal skills they will need to succeed in the modern world.

"Delivered by world-class sports stars and a skilled team of trainers, this project gives young people the chance to learn from winners in sport, helping them to become winners in life.

"GE sites around the UK have partnered with a local school and a team of GE volunteers, skilled trained communicators, and a trained group of Olympic and world class athletes are involved in delivering a range of tried and tested activities which help young people of all abilities to raise their aspirations and motivation.


"With the help of London 2012 mascots Wenlock and Mandeville and 12 GE volunteers, Dame Kelly and her team took over 100 students through a series of interactive and engaging activities and workshops covering attitudes and skills for success, teamwork, communication, risk taking, learning from mistakes and creative thinking.

The programme is made up of a series of workshops, all of which focus on reaching targets and personal development.

These are led by a skilled team of communicators, working with GE volunteers from sites near to the local community and are supported by a world-class athlete from the DKH Legacy Trust.

Joining the packed day of events at Eastlea Community School was Mike Mullen BMX World Masterclass Champion.

"Kelly talked about how she watched Seb Coe on TV winning the 1,500 metres at the 1984 Olympics and then told her friends at school that she wanted to be an Olympic champion," said a spokeswoman for the Trust.

"She said her best friends – Lara, Kim and Kerry, with whom she is still friends today – said 'Of course you can do it', while most others at her school told her she wouldn't be able to.


"Kelly's message to the children today was 'listen to the people who are your real friends, who are positive and who support you.

'Don't let anyone put you down.

'Follow your dreams and ambitions.'

"This school is in a tough area, but we wanted to start putting this message across just round the corner from where the Olympics will be held."

Ruth Bedingham, responsible for corporate citizenship at GE, commented: "As part of GE's Design My Break initiative that was launched in 2010, the partnership with Aspiring Minds is based around GE's desire to use the Olympics as a way of inspiring young people to think about how to use the Olympic and Paralympic values, in particular those of inspiration, friendship and leadership, in real life."

GE is a Worldwide Olympic Partner and the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to staging a successful Olympic Games.

GE works closely with host countries, cities and organizing committees to provide infrastructure solutions for Olympic Games venues including power, water treatment, transportation and security and to supply hospitals with ultrasound and MRI equipment to help doctors treat athletes.

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