Performance Director for RLSS UK, Michele Weedy, has been nominated as a regional finalist for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year 2013: Unsung Hero Award. Guest blogger Aileen Robson from Blyth Lifeguard & Swimming Club shares the club’s delight at her nomination!

WOW, GO MICHELE, one of the top three in the North East of England up for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero Award!

If anyone deserves such an award it has to be Michele Weedy, Lifeguard Captain at Blyth Lifeguard & Swimming Club. Michele is such a dedicated member of our club. This year Michele was given the honour of being Team Manager for the England Lifesaving Team, which travelled to Australia for the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships. Six of Michele’s own athletes from Blyth made the England Squad. Each athlete who competed at this competition medaled and England finished 2nd overall, thanks to Michele’s dedication and commitment to her sport.

Michele gives up ALL of her spare time to teach and coach lifesaving sport to people of all age groups, from Rookies through to Masters. She not only does this for her own club but will regularly go to other clubs up and down the country to pass on her knowledge to others. As lifesaving is the only sport that involves saving lives, the time and effort Michele gives to others is potentially life changing.

Michele has helped 1000s of people over the years, not only from Blyth Lifeguard & Swimming Club, but to athletes and coaches from other clubs.  Michele will regularly travel the country at her own expense to pass on her skills and knowledge as a coach to others. She is very passionate about lifesaving sport and her enthusiasm is very contagious.  We lose very few children from the lifesaving sport side of our club, they join us at the age of six and stay representing their club in regional, national and international competitions.

As Michele works full-time for the North East Ambulance Service, she relies on a team of coaches to help her at training sessions and competitions, but all the behind the scenes work like admin, paperwork, organising transport for competitions, organising officials for galas, liaising with other clubs to organise training camps etc, is all done by Michele herself.

RLSS UK – Congratulations Michelle, a well deserved nomination! Keep up the fantastic work.