CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS
BA Great Britons received a wide range of exciting entries to round eight of
the programme, and we are delighted to announce that philanthropic runner Chris Rhys Howarth
and lyrical poet Hollie McNish are now included in our ever-growing list of deserving winners.
Keep reading to find out why the judges and general public were so impressed with Chris and Hollie.
Chris Howarth
Chris Howarth (28) is no stranger to a challenge — in 2004 he became the UK record holder for the Jungle Marathon in Brazil, a 200 km foot race over seven days through the Amazon jungle. This summer he is planning to undertake his toughest challenge yet — running 1,100 miles solo across Kenya to raise money and awareness for the country's poorest children. Chris will have to run over 30 miles every day for seven weeks in order to meet this incredible goal.
Chris will use the flights from BA Great Britons to make his way to Nairobi, and hopes to make history by completing an endurance feat never before attempted.
We wish Chris all the very best in completeing his incredible journey and raising money for such a worthy cause.
HOLLIE MCNISH
27 year old slam poet Hollie McNish has had an incredible year — winning the UK Slam Poetry Championships, representing the UK in the 2009 World Slam Poetry Championships, winning the Glastonbury Festival Poetry Slam and giving birth to her first daughter has certainly kept Hollie busy!
Now with the help of BA Great Britons, Hollie is able to take her talent further afield by representing the UK at the Australian Slam Poetry tour in Sydney.
Hollie has been invited to tour, perform and attend a series of poetry mentoring workshops as part of the Young Writer's Festival in Australia, which will also offer her the opportunity to promote her debut poetry CD whilst she's down-under. We can't wait to hear more from Hollie!
ROUND SEVEN WINNERS
LAURA GALLAGHER
Twenty year old Laura Gallagher always had a passion for sport and discovered trampolining at the age of twelve with the aptly named High Flyers club. Only four years later Laura was proudly representing Great Britain and it was at this time that she decided to dedicate her life to achieving her ambition – being the best trampolinist in the world.
Laura’s ambitions were well on course as she won the Under 19 World Championships but soon afterwards a crisis of confidence threatened to prevent Laura from achieving her dream. For the best part of a year Laura barely felt able to get on a trampoline and couldn’t perform the moves that were once second nature. However, Laura has overcome her fears and her dedication has put her back on the runway to success. Laura is now training full-time, will once again compete in the World Championships and as a Great Britons winner she and her coach will be able to travel to Montreal to train with some of the top trampolinists in the world. We wish Laura all the best as she continues to pursue her high flying dream towards the London 2012 Olympic Games.
HUW AND CAROLYN THOMAS
Cornish couple Huw and Carolyn Thomas were so moved by a video of a young girl whose home was destroyed and friends killed by an earthquake in Java that they felt they had to help in some way. Huw and Carolyn have set themselves the considerable hallenge of cycling 10,000 miles on a tandem to raise awareness and funds for charity ShelterBox.
ShelterBox have provided aid for an estimated 500,000 people over the last ten years and Huw and Carolyn have direct experience of the fantastic work that they do. Huw worked for ShelterBox and Carolyn, when working as a journalist, reported on aid provided by the charity in Pakistan. Having previously explored Europe on a tandem Huw and Carolyn, aka ‘The Tandem 10,000’, aimed even higher and plan to raise £100,000 as they cover approximately 50 miles a day cycling across three continents. Their desire to help others inspired the voting British public and with their support Huw and Carolyn rose to the top of Great Britons. Flights to Sydney from British Airways will help these altruistic adventurers tackle the Australian leg of their epic journey.
ROUND SIX WINNERS
MORGAN PARKERSON
Morgan Parkerson (22) started playing softball at the age of fourteen and since then has never looked back. Morgan's talent soared and her softball prowess earned her a scholarship at an American university where she is in the final stages of completing her degree.
At the same time, Morgan plays for the Great Britain National Softball Team who have just had their best ever season beating some of the top teams in Europe finishing second in the European Championships. This strong display of British softball skills saw the team automatically qualify for the 2010 World Championships. As Great Britons winners, Morgan and her 15 team mates have been awarded flights to the USA to enable this unfunded team to compete on the world stage where they belong.
ROBIN FOOTITT
Twenty seven year old Londoner, Robin Footitt, knew from an early age that art would be the driving force in his life. His ability and passion continued to shine as he studied art throughout school and college; with a turning point in his life being the three months he spent in New York after being awarded an Internship at the Museum of Modern Art.
Following his inspirational time living and breathing the Big Apple's thriving arts scene, Robin returned to the UK and completed his Masters at The Royal College of Art as well as finding time for a studio residency in Paris. However, it is the city of New York that proved to be Robin's favourite muse and by winning the support of the British public Robin is able to reignite his NYC passion. Using the flights from BA Great Britons Robin will head back across the pond, to work and exhibit with the contacts made on his first, and showcase the best in British artistic talent.
ROUND FIVE WINNERS
LORNA BROWN
Lorna Brown (28), is the captain of the colourful London Roller Girls, the European Champions of Roller Derby. It was Lorna’s dedication to developing an emerging sport – Roller Derby – that captured the judge’s attention as well as her passionate determination to take her team to the next level.
As Great Britons winners, Lorna and the rest of the team have been awarded flights to the USA, to take up an invitation to train with the Gotham Girls Roller Derby in New York – the top ranked US Roller Derby team. Lorna’s goal is to make the sport as popular in the UK as it already is in the States, providing others with the same positive impact it has had on her own life.
CHOCKS AWAY
Together, Londoners David Aspinall and Ben Stevenson form Chocks Away, our second winners in the fifth round of Great Britons. This philanthropic duo is set to depart on an ambitious road trip from Great Britain to Cameroon in order to raise money for two worthy charities – SOS Children’s Villages and Send a Cow. As Great Britons winners, David and Ben will be flown back to the UK by British Airways at the end of their adventure ensuring their safe return.
Dedicated re-applicants to the Great Britons programme, Chocks Away were nominated this round for a second time and have emerged victorious. Their ambitious charitable endeavours and strong British character ensured that they gained a strong public vote to win support for their cause.
ROUND FOUR WINNERS
FELICITY MILTON
Determined to achieve excellence in both her sporting endeavours and academic studies, Felicity (22) from Leicestershire clearly demonstrated all the qualities needed to be considered a Great Briton. Already competing in cross country athletics at Olympic standard, Felicity is determined to nurture her athletic potential to secure a place in Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Not content with success on the sports field, Felicity has also earned a postgraduate place at the renowned Stanford University in San Francisco to study biomechanical engineering alongside world leaders in the field. Her British Airways flights will ensure that she can take up this place and achieve her goals.
SOPHIE GLEDHILL
Not only has Sophie (21) demonstrated clear talent for the cello from an early age, but it was her drive for success, despite obstacles placed in her way, that inspired the public vote. Following a car accident this year that left her unable to play for a short time and her father unable to work, Sophie remained more determined that ever to recover and build on her previous success.
Sophie’s evident talent for music was proven by her offer of a place at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. In order to take up the place, she needed some help with the flights between England and New York, and as a true Great Briton, British Airways is proud to support her in her endeavours.
ROUND THREE WINNERS
GEOFF HOLT
In 2007, Geoff became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Briton. In December of this year, Geoff will embark on an even greater challenge – to sail the 2,700 mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted in every aspect. He will be he first quadriplegic to make the trip.
Geoff's flights will ensure that his family can fly out to Antigua to welcome him back to shore on his return in January 2010. Geoff's phenomenal determination in the face of adversity was what inspired the judges to shortlist him, and earned him the public support that secured his position at the top of the list.
ISABELLA MCGUIRE MAYES
At just 16, Isabella showed enormous courage in taking herself off to the Kirov Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Not speaking the language didn’t daunt the young star, who remains the only British student currently studying at the school.
Izzy is a true Great Briton, representing British talent on the world stage, and overcoming huge challenges to achieve her dream. Izzy’s award will enable her to fly back and forth between the UK and St. Petersburg, ensuring her much-deserved holidays back home while she fulfills her four-year course at the school.
ROUND TWO WINNERS
VICTORIA YOUNG
Teenage Wakeboarding sensation, Victoria Young is ranked #3 in the world. Her application for Great Britons bursary will help cover her transport needs to the many international competitions that she enters across the year – including the European Championships.
She was the first British female to represent Great Britain at an international event. Victoria's ultimate goal is to climb the final two places in the rankings and become Ladies World Champion in Wakeboarding. This drive to reach the top is what marked her out as a leading contender in the judges' shortlist, and her dedicated passion for her sport earned her the winning votes.
GEORGINA GEIKIE
Georgina (24) is firm in her ambitious goals – to be British number one Lady Pistol Shooter and to gain a London 2012 Olympic medal. Due to her standard .22 Pistol being banned in the UK, Georgina is required to conduct all effective training abroad – as well as travelling to international competitions.
Her desire to represent Britain on the world stage and to achieve the ultimate pinnacle in sporting achievement – an Olympic medal – provided her with strong support from the judges. Her unusual hobby and evident talent propelled her towards the top of the voting table, ensuring her award of a BA Great Britons bursary.
ROUND ONE WINNERS
DAVID EADIE
Colonel David Eadie is part of the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team, competing for the chance to qualify for the 2014 Paralympics. Overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges in pursuit of their goals, their combination of determination and talent have placed them in a position to compete with the World's best in their respective disciplines. This is what sealed their winning position with both the judges and their voters as Great Britons, earning them British Airways flights to the Europa Cup Races to help them achieve their dreams.
DANIEL DOLAN
The next Billy Elliot in-the-making, 16 year-old Daniel Dolan is a precociously talented ballet dancer. Not content with impressive invitations from the Boston Ballet School, Miami Ballet and world-renowned Julliard School in New York to attend their intensive summer school programs, this talented dancer has his sights set on flights to Moscow: to take up a phenomenal opportunity to train with the Bolshoi Ballet company in Russia. Only two other British nationals have had similar offers in the last 235 years making young Daniel a truly exemplary Great Briton.
COULD YOU BE THE NEXT GREAT BRITON?
Are you determined, competitive and have the courage to follow your dreams? If you have a burning desire to visit a location that could advance your career, this could be your chance to get there.
Whether you dream of inspiring others or perhaps just reaching the top of your game, apply now.