Since the tragic passing of Ellie Soutter in 2018, her incredible family have worked tirelessly to support young winter athletes through The Ellie Soutter Foundation, helping those who need financial assistance to pursue their potential in the sport they love.

My name is Xavier Poynton. I’m now 14 years old and a ski racer with Ambition Race Team and the GB Children’s team. Back in 2020, when I was just 9, I was involved in a serious accident while training in Austria for the English Alpine Championships. A snowboarder collided with me at high speed, leaving me with a fractured femur. I was airlifted from the mountain and had surgery to insert a metal rod in my leg. I received amazing care, including rehabilitation with the same physiotherapists who helped get Olympian Katie Ormerod back on the slopes.

But what followed was even tougher — the mental recovery. Lockdown meant I couldn’t see friends, and I became withdrawn and anxious. With the support of my family, I eventually got back on my skis by August. Then, heartbreakingly, later that year I had another accident and broke both my fibula and tibia. More surgery. More frustration. And even more doubt about whether I’d ever ski again.

But I refused to give up. I pushed through the setbacks and decided to turn my experience into something positive. In May 2021, I challenged myself to run 100km to raise money for The Ellie Soutter Foundation. I ended up running 120km — supported by friends, teammates, coaches, and even my bootfitters at Rivington Alpine. The challenge not only raised money but also transformed my mental health. Running helped me manage anxiety and feel stronger, mentally and emotionally. For that, I’m forever grateful to Ellie.

Since then, I’ve made it my mission to run 150km every May — not just to fundraise, but to raise awareness around mental health in young people and the power of exercise to help. Mental health affects everyone — regardless of age, gender, or background. It's so important we talk about it openly and support each other.

This May marks the fifth year of this challenge, and more people than ever are joining in to run 100K in May for The Ellie Soutter Foundation. Together, we’re raising money, building awareness, and reminding everyone that it’s okay not to be okay — but we can do something about it.

So I’m asking: will you join me? Whether it’s a run, a walk, or a challenge of your own, get involved, support others, and if you can — please donate to this incredible charity. Let’s keep Ellie’s memory alive and keep making a difference.

Thank you.

Xav