Tanni Grey-Thompson joins Sunderland charity board

Competing at five Paralympic Games between 1988 and 2004, Dame Tanni won 11 gold medals, four silver and one bronze in wheelchair racing events (100-800m

and 4x100m).

Since retiring from competition, she has taken several posts, mainly focussed on sport and fitness participation, including chairing the board of ukactive, which promotes active lifestyles.

Now, she’ll also be championing Sunderland-based Foundation of Light, which recently moved into its new home in the state-of-the-art Beacon of Light in Monkwearmouth.

As well as housing sports pitches, the £20million Beacon will also become a central hub for disability sport within the region.

Sir Bob Murray CBE, chair of trustees at Foundation of Light, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dame Thompson to our Board of Trustees. She has been a leading light and force for good within sport for a long time now and her expertise, passion and insight will help us improve even more lives within the North East.”

Tanni Grey-Thompson added: “I am very proud to be joining Foundation of Light’s Board of Trustees at such an exciting time. The Beacon of Light especially offers a fantastic opportunity for so many people to improve their health and lives, and I look forward to helping them make the most of it.”

The former athlete joins a trustee board comprising of leading figures from the worlds of: education; health and wellbeing; sport and play; and the world of work/industry and enterprise.

The current Trustees of Foundation of Light are: Sir Bob Murray CBE; Kate Adie OBE DL; George Clarke; Paul Collingwood MBE; Steve Cram CBE; The Rt Hon The

Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley, PC; Colonel The Hon James Ramsbotham DL; Sir Tim Rice; and Sir Peter Vardy DL.