Deryn Allen-Dyer
My name is Deryn and the day that HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh passed away I became the Disability sports Wales Emerging Athlete of the year. The very next day on the 10th I turned 16.
The reason for stating the above 1st is quite simple. For as long as I can remember I have been involved in my sport of Judo. It is because of Judo that I wish to tell you my story.
Aged just 11 I embarked on the DofE Diamond Award in 2016 for 60 yrs of the DofE Awards. Having raised my £60 through sponsorship to do a throwathon at an International event in Walsall England (Visually impaired Grande Prix) I was to throw top athletes 60 times in the warm up area at the competition.
Around the same time a young Judoka from Scotland (Former Commonwealth medalist and GBR International) was held up in a Thai hospital due to complications with her insurance. Money needed to be raised to bring her home.
Knowing this I asked as Part of her DofE Diamond Award throwathon could I also ask those attending if they felt they could make a contribution to the "bring Stephanie home fund"
Needless to say I did the throwathon but not in the warm up area but on the middle mat stage area just before the finals with everyone willing me and cheering me on. I managed to raise a considerable amount. But the memories and achievements that came from the experience will remain with me for life.
Fast forward and in 2019 and I completed my Bronze Award and in 2020 during Covid was given special permission along with my school Pen-Y-Dre high school in Merthyr to complete our Silver.
Just before Christmas i wrote to HRH and told him that I was looking forward to completing my Gold and that she wanted him to know how very grateful I was to him for all he has done for young people around the world. And yes a letter came back saying thank you.
As I have just turned 16 and due still to covid I hope to start my Gold really soon.
The reason for stating the above 1st is quite simple. For as long as I can remember I have been involved in my sport of Judo. It is because of Judo that I wish to tell you my story.
Aged just 11 I embarked on the DofE Diamond Award in 2016 for 60 yrs of the DofE Awards. Having raised my £60 through sponsorship to do a throwathon at an International event in Walsall England (Visually impaired Grande Prix) I was to throw top athletes 60 times in the warm up area at the competition.
Around the same time a young Judoka from Scotland (Former Commonwealth medalist and GBR International) was held up in a Thai hospital due to complications with her insurance. Money needed to be raised to bring her home.
Knowing this I asked as Part of her DofE Diamond Award throwathon could I also ask those attending if they felt they could make a contribution to the "bring Stephanie home fund"
Needless to say I did the throwathon but not in the warm up area but on the middle mat stage area just before the finals with everyone willing me and cheering me on. I managed to raise a considerable amount. But the memories and achievements that came from the experience will remain with me for life.
Fast forward and in 2019 and I completed my Bronze Award and in 2020 during Covid was given special permission along with my school Pen-Y-Dre high school in Merthyr to complete our Silver.
Just before Christmas i wrote to HRH and told him that I was looking forward to completing my Gold and that she wanted him to know how very grateful I was to him for all he has done for young people around the world. And yes a letter came back saying thank you.
As I have just turned 16 and due still to covid I hope to start my Gold really soon.
