World and Paralympic gold medalist, Tim Prendergast, is to visit pupils from Norwood School tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of their involvement in the Youth Sport Trust’s Sky Sports Living for Sport programme– an initiative that uses the power of sport to motivate and inspire young people.

A group of pupils at Norwood School will spend the day with Prendergast as he will mentor and lead the days activities, including a classroom session discussing stories and experiences with Tim referring to his own inspiring struggle through sport.

Sky Sports Living for Sport is a free online tool (www.skysports.com/livingforsport) delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, that has been designed for young people aged 11 to 16, encouraging them to take on different activities and learn new sports to help them reach their potential.

As a highly respected Paralympic gold medallist, Prendergast joins 17 athletes involved in the Sky Sports Living for Sport programme, who will visit a number of schools around the country to share his experiences and inspire and motivate young people of all levels of sporting ability.

In his second year as a Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete mentor, Prendergast will be using his own story of struggle and success through sport to support the staff at Norwood School in their efforts to help pupils realise their potential. “I’m looking forward to visiting the school and see the young people there get involved with Sky Sports Living for Sport, giving them the encouragement to be the best they can be,” he said.

Theresa Corcoran, Head of PE at Norwood School comments: “It’s very exciting to have such an inspiring figure as Tim Prendergast give up his time for us like this. The pupils have been looking forward to the visit and have really worked hard to make the day a success.”

By providing free online planning tools and sports kit, Sky Sports Living for Sport helps teachers to support young people in a variety of ways - by improving their attainment, their health, their self-esteem, or by pushing them to reach their full potential.

To date, 20,000 young people in over 600 schools have benefited since the programme began in 2003. The ambition of the project, which is supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, is for 2,000 schools and 30,000 young people to register with Sky Sports Living for Sport by 2012 and to build the activities into curricular and extracurricular activities.

Schools, community centres and organisations in London who would like to learn more about how to become involved in Sky Sports Living for Sport are invited to register their school at www.skysports.com/livingforsport.com.

TIM PRENDERGAST FACT-FILE * At eight-years old Tim Prendergast began losing his vision. Within five years he lost over 90% of his vision. Despite his rapidly deteriorating sight and troubles coming to terms with his impairment, Tim still had a passion for sport and found a real enjoyment in running.

* Success was not a given and Tim tried and failed in many races as a junior. In 2004 Tim represented New Zealand at his second Paralympic Games in Athens winning the Gold medal in the T13 800 metres. Tim recently ran at the Beijing Paralympics where he finished just outside the medals in the 1500 and 5000 metres. Tim mixes with fully sighted athletes and runs regularly for his Premiership club Woodford Green.

* Disappointed with his results in Beijing, Tim has his sights set for London where he aims to win Gold in the 1500 metre event at the 2012 Paralympics.