Random UKFast acts set athletes on road to Rio

Company determines to make 2014 a year of philanthropy

As part of a "random acts of kindness" year, UKFast is helping the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation set young athletes on the road to the Rio Olympic Games.

Pictured on left is Aaron Saxton, director of training at UKFast, with several of the young athletes and sports personality Diane Modahl on the right. UKFast is offering its gym for the Foundation to use for free, as some of the athletes are training in hopes of attending the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016.

Lawrence Jones, chief executive of UKFast, said the sports foundation is "extremely close" to his heart and the athletes will have access to the gym several times a week.

"We're so proud to be helping young athletes to grow and develop, despite tough circumstances," he said. "We're glad to be able to help, especially as we continue our mission to give back to the community more than ever in 2014."

Diane Modahl, a former middle-distance runner who has been to the Olympics four times as well as winning the 800m at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, set up the foundation in 2010 to assist young sportsmen and women with coaching and mentoring.

"This is a wonderful initiative and I am honoured and touched at the support UKFast have given us with this facility," she said. "A resource of this calibre will contribute greatly to their (our young people's) success."

Manchester-based UKFast has dubbed 2014 a year of Random Acts of Kindness, in which it is committing £100,000 throughout 2014 to help a range of charities.

"At the end of last year and coming into 2014, we took on several charity projects such as Key 103's Mission Xmas and we were privileged enough to spend some time helping out a family in Wythenshawe and turn their nightmare before Christmas into a dream come true (pictured below right, with Jones)."

Harvey Ratcliff is an autistic seven-year old who lives with his family in Wythenshawe. As reported in the Manchester Evening News, at Christmas intruders torched the boy's specially designed private "den", a kind of sensation-focused playhouse aimed at helping him develop.

UKFast decided to help rebuild the room.

"Seeing our team and businesses from across the city come together to help out really inspired me and made me realise how much we can do to help those in need in the city," said Jones.

"Although we cannot help everyone, we want to help as many people across Manchester and hope that other businesses will follow suit."