Since the tragic passing of Ellie in 2018, her incredible family decided to fundraise for young winter athletes that need financial assistance to achieve their potential. Giving for Sport is honoured to help them help amateur snowsport.

My name is Xavier Poynton, I am 11 years old and am a ski racer with Ambition Race Team. In February 2020, at the age of 9, whilst training in Austria for the English Alpine Championships, I was hit by a snowboarder at high speed which fractured my femur.  I was airlifted off the mountain and had surgery to put a metal rod in my leg.  I was lucky to have amazing care, and work with physiotherapists Harris and Ross, who were responsible for getting Katie Ormerod back on the slopes after her injury. 

However, the mental recovery was harder.  I did struggle at times, and
with the lockdown it meant that I wasn’t able to see my friends which made things very hard.  I didn’t want to come out of my bedroom and didn’t really want to go out, but with lots of encouragement from my family, I improved and got back on my skis by August.  I struggled mentally, worrying what people where thinking of me, doubting my ability and finding myself very anxious.  Unfortunately, 2020 hadn’t finished with me yet, and whilst training out in Austria again, I had a freak fall and broke my fibula and tibia.  Again surgery was needed.  I couldn’t believe it.  It seemed so unfair.  I was so unhappy and frustrated, and for a while I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to ski again.  My medical and rehab team assembled again for my UK treatment and made sure that my body healed well.  Recovery was very hard this time, I felt like I’d done it all before and that it was for nothing.  But I didn’t give up and worked harder than ever.  I decided that I want to use my injury for good, and that I would use the last month of my rehabilitation to set myself a challenge that would help others, and that is why I committed to doing 100K in May 2021
for the Ellie Soutter Foundation, to raise fund to help this amazing charity to continue doing their amazing work.  I actually completed 120K, and was joined along the way by lots of supporters including my bootfitters at Rivington Alpine, my coaches, teammates and friends, raising £3,500.  The strange thing is, that whilst I was doing this challenge for others, I have found that the running has been amazing for my own mental health, and I don’t suffer from the negative thoughts and anxieties that I suffered from  before.  I’ve now come back to the slope stronger than when I left it becoming British Alpine U12 SL Champion this month, something I thought was
impossible at the start of the season.  My mind is clear and focused and I feel happier and freer.  It’s only through doing this challenge that I’ve come to realise and feel the benefits of running on my mental health, and for this, I thank Ellie.  I really want to continue raising awareness of mental health in young people and and encourage them to start running or exercising, it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.  When ever I start to feel those thoughts and feelings, I get my trainers on and chase them away.

This year I will be upping my target to 150km in May for The Ellie Soutter Foundation and instead of just raising money I will also be raising awareness for mental health issues and how exercise can help. Everyone has mental health whether it’s good or bad. Issues
with mental health can affect anyone, male or female, young or old and any culture. It’s important to normalise talking about mental health from a young age and understand what we can do to look after it. So, this May I want to challenge everyone to go out for a run if they feel down, take a friend if you think they need it and if you’re struggling speak up and tell someone. I will be running with people like I did last year and will still be doing a just giving page and aiming to raise even more money for this awesome charity and start raising mental health awareness. Remember it’s ok not to be ok, but let’s do something about it.