State of Mind’s Trustee and Presenter Jimmy Gittins has been shortlisted for the Kate Granger Award for Outstanding Contribution at tonight’s Yorkshire Choice Awards in Leeds tonight
Jimmy has demonstrated outstanding commitment in delivering education sessions about mental fitness across rugby league and union clubs and other sports clubs, schools, colleges, universities and employers over the past 6 years travelling the length and breadth of the country.
Dr. Phil Cooper said “I met Jimmy in 2012 and he told me his story when he broke his neck playing rugby league with Sharlston Rovers 12 years ago and this changed the former professional rugby league player and builder’s life forever”
He fought back from being told he would never be able to sit up, feed himself or have a family. He has overcome this adversity by challenging his own body every day to achieve massive success to help other people in many ways.
Jimmy is a trustee and education session presenter with State of Mind Sport http://rugbyleague.www.stateofmindsport.org/ where he has travelled the country delivering mental fitness sessions that have saved numerous lives from suicide in over 160 sessions. Using his inspirational story of change from a dark place contemplating ending his life to a positive mind-set that inspires others on a daily basis. Jimmy has travelled the country clocking thousands of miles in supporting State of Mind driving 100’s of miles on one day to deliver a session in London, Belfast or South Wales to try to change or save a life.
Jimmy is an ambassador for the Steve Prescott Foundation www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk/ raising money to support The Christie Cancer hospital and the rugby league player’s benevolent fund completing many outrageous challenges. Wheelchair hand cycling from France to Wembley, rowing in a Dragon Boat down the Thames with Johnny Vegas to deliver the ball to the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, wheelchair hand cycling from Hull to Manchester’s Old Trafford and a mammoth journey from Land’s End to John O Groats, skydiving with the Red Devils from 15000 feet and many more examples where his determination to help others by raising money or awareness is second to none.
Jimmy will always set goals every day to achieve more and more and it has been an honour and privilege to work alongside such an inspirational human being
State of Mind would like to wish Jimmy all the very best tonight you are already an outstanding contributor for us and we would like to wish all the other rugby league nominees Conor Lynes, Lizzie Jones and Tanya Arnold good luck with their award shortlisting’s at the same event