A 19-YEAR-OLD leader at Pathways – a youth group that teaches children and young people leadership skills and encourages them to take on responsibilities – has been inspired to run tomorrow’s marathon to support the organisation.
Daniel Kelly is running his first marathon – and his efforts have inspired others to put on their trainers, with Pathways now fielding two relay teams who are all raising funds for the group.
He said: “Pathways has given me so much and now is a chance for me to give back and say thank you for all it has done for me.
“I have been with the group since it started ten years ago and I have risen through the ranks to become a senior leader. It has given me so many opportunities to put into practice the skills it has taught me.”
Daniel said he had been training for 22 weeks for the marathon. This past week, he added, Pathways’ groups had joined him for sponsored laps at the Les Quennevais, with the Lions Club of Jersey donating £1 for each completed circuit.
He added that he had already raised more than £1,400 for the group.
Founded by former primary school teacher Liz Lambotte in 2015, Pathways now has 175 members: 100 children and 75 young leaders.
It currently meets four evenings a week for different age groups at different primary schools: St Luke’s, Mont Nicolle and La Moye.
However, it is planning to open a new base in the east of the Island and is looking for a host school.
Ms Lambotte said that she was immensely proud of Daniel, whose “determination and commitment to his marathon challenge had been inspirational”.
She said: “Daniel’s journey with Pathways began when he was just a boy attending our holiday clubs.
“As he grew older, he gradually took on more responsibility, stepping into the role of a young leader when he moved into secondary school.
“We’ve watched him grow through the different stages – starting out in an orange T-shirt in Years 7 and 8, moving up to a purple T-shirt in Year 9, and now, at 19, helping at our after-school club and leading one of our leadership sessions on Tuesday evenings at Mont Nicolle.”
“Through Pathways, he has developed leadership skills, resilience, teamwork and the ability to use his initiative in challenging situations. Most importantly, Pathways has given him opportunities and lifelong friendships.”
Ms Lambotte said that she had been inspired to set up Pathways when she was a youth worker at St Aubin’s Methodist Church and it had always been built on a Christian ethos.
“It’s amazing how much it has grown, and it has continues to go from strength to strength,” she said.
