Mark Foster

The best thing I was taught was:
The harder I train- the luckier I get!!

When I was a child I wanted to be:
A pilot

My greatest weakness is:
I’m too nice!!

In another life my job would be:
A tennis player

The three people who most inspire me:
Mum,
Björn Borg
Adrian Moorehouse.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
My love of what I do.

Jim Rees

The best thing I was taught was:
A really tough question to answer as so many things have shaped me. I guess it's got to be Henry Ford's quote:- If you think you Can or if you think you Can't, you're probably right.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
Peter Pan & still do!

My greatest weakness is:
Pretending to be Peter Pan

In another life my job would be:
Another tricky question as I really love what I do. I guess I would have been an explorer.

The three people who most inspire me:
There are soooo many people I'd like to add to this list!
Patrick Henry
Rick & Dickie Hoytt
Lance Armstrong

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
I believe that one person can make a difference

Ashley Theophane

The best thing I was taught was:
Never be happy with what you have achieved, you can always improve and accomplish more.

There is always someone who wants to be where you are, so staying focused and dedicated is very important in achieving your goals.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
I wanted to be a Professional Boxer and fight in America against some of the World's best. I am basically living my childhood dream. When I am running up the mountains in Pennsylvania in America, I look around at my environment and I feel like I am in a Rocky movie. I give my all to my sport as I want to show kids anything is possible when you believe in yourself even when no one else does.

My greatest weakness is:
Always wanting to help people. I hate to see people not using their whole potential and just coasting through life. So I try to help and advise people when I can.

In another life my job would be:
I would be a teacher. I think the youth are our future and I would love to help educate them and prepare them for the World. I had teachers that instilled qualities in me that I still have today. Lessons learned in school can be with you for the rest of your life.

The three people who most inspire me:
My mother Lucille Treasure has inspired me to work hard for what I want in life.
My cousin Tyrone Theophane, died of a heart problem in his mid 20s, so he has inspired me to live my life and enjoy myself.

When I achieve a goal or experience something new I always feel like I am sharing it with him.

US President Barrack Obama, inspired me as he is testament if you believe in yourself and work hard for what you want. Nothing is impossible.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
To make a better life for myself and to make the most of my life.
Life is short and it is too precious to waste.
When I finish my career, I don't want to have no regrets.

Ben Hunt Davis

The best thing I was taught was:
“try, try, try again” and “if a things worth doing, it’s worth doing properly”

When I was a child I wanted to be:
A soldier

My greatest weakness is:
Saying yes

In another life my job would be:
A criminal barrister or a skier

The three people who most inspire me:
Capt. Noel Chavasse, as a doctor in the 1st world war he got 2 Victoria crosses for bravery.

Douglas Bader, lost both his legs in a fighter plane and continued as a fighter pilot, truly inspirational. E D Smith, a Gurkha officer who fought in the 2nd World war, lost and arm and carried on serving, I remember watching him play tennis, watching him serve with only 1 arm was amazing.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
The person just in front of me

Kerry White

The best thing I was taught was:
To give everything I have when I want something. Even if you are not the best one out there, there is room for everyone and their individuality.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
I am not really sure but I am pretty sure it was not to be a Software Support Technician.

My greatest weakness is:
I usually don’t know when to stop - that includes things like eating, exercising and laundry.

In another life my job would be:
A professional cyclist and inspirational speaker

The three people who most inspire me:
My husband - I am always inspired by his athletic discipline and a desire to one day be able to keep up with him in some sporting activity; Mike Janelle - a local Professional Mountain Biker from the Vail Valley who passed away in Nov 2007 - he was an incredible role model on how to live life every day www.livelikemike.org; My Mum and Dad - they gave their children every opportunity in the world to live amazing lives I cannot be more thankful to two people who made many sacrifices to help make my life so fulfilling.

Dr Linda Papadopoulous

The best thing I was taught was:
The differences between those who fail and those who succeed, is not that successful people don't fall down, it’s just that they keep getting back up...

When I was a child I wanted to be:
A writer

My greatest weakness is:
I am not good at saying no, which means I often take on too much work and end up feeling exhausted

In another life my job would be:
An investigative journalist

I guess the main things that have have driven me over the years are:
1. A good work ethic- I try and do my best in whatever I do
2. Determination- I am pretty stubborn and don't give up easily
3. A love of challenges- I like trying things that are considered difficult or new
4. A love of learning- Once you have it, the one thing that no one can ever take away from you is what you have learnt

Lindsey Springer

The best thing I was taught was:
Treat others how you wish to be treated. Be open-minded.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
A nurse, until I started my nursing degree, then I realised it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was always interested in natural medicines but didn’t realise that a Herbal Medicine degree existed. When I found out, I became a herbalist instead.

My greatest weakness is:
I not very good at saying ‘No’, confidence.

In another life my job would be:
I think we always have many different sides to ourselves so I would want to do all of these things:
A contortionist for Cirque du Soleil, an undercover spy, a vet in an animal hospital, a vampire or evil witch in a movie, forensics.

The three people who most inspire me;
There are many amazing people who aren’t famous or recognised for the things they do. I am inspired by many normal people with normal everyday lives. It could be someone’s generosity of time or knowledge. Someone’s ability to have a sense of humour. Peoples personal determination in their work and ability to support, teach and help others.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
I’m lucky; I have amazingly supportive, loving and gentle parents. Fantastic, diverse friends and inspirational work colleagues.

Kelly and Dave ‘The Cycling Nomads’

The best thing I was taught was:
Dave-If you do something for nothing, do it for yourself and if the job is worth doing, do it properly. This is a lesson that Dave’s’ Granddad taught him.
Kelly-Whatever you do in life, give it your all.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
Dave- a footballer
Kelly-a vet, an explorer

My greatest weakness is:
Dave - chocolate
Kelly - travel and coffee

In another life my job would be:
Dave- a professional cyclist
Kelly-an anthropologist, a travel photographer, a travel writer

The three people who most inspire me:
Dave- My Grandmother´s strength under adversity, Randolf Finnes for his adventures and Ewan MaGregor´s Long Way Round.

Kelly- .The book "News from Tartary" by Peter Fleming- travelling through Central Asia in the 1920s with his companion Kiki. My mum-her constant support, and at the moment I am constantly inspired by the people and the cyclists that I have met whilst on the road, from those that have taken us in and expecting nothing in return to families cycling with children.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
Dave-Self belief, that I should follow my dreams.
Kelly- My dad, by sharing with me his love of books and reading. I am constantly inspired and driven by the books that I read and the stories that people share.

Jackson Williams - Ultra marathon runner and lightweight boxer

The best thing I was taught was:
To keep on moving forward and to not look back, no matter what the successes or failures you have.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
I always wanted to be a World Champion in boxing. I was the biggest Mike Tyson fan and to see that kind of ferociousness and skill in a boxing ring made me inspired.

My greatest weakness is:
Giving in to my little girl, when she cries I give her what she wants.

In another life my job would be:
A professional poker player

The three people who most inspire me:
Firstly my sweet mum and my partner Annie. My mum had to look after four sons; even though my dad was around my mum did most of the jobs whilst my dad worked many hours in his job. My partner Annie who looks after our little princess Poppy all day, every day and has to put up with all the personal challenges I set myself.

Secondly the “Greatest” Muhammad Ali – more for the way he conducted himself outside the boxing ring, though sometimes not to everyone’s advantage.

Thirdly to all those soldiers that give up some individual rights, accept collective standards which contribute to the common good, and undertake their duties for a cause in which they may have no personal interest.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
I have to keep achieving things for the purpose of leaving a legacy for my family to remember me by as life is short-lived and no one ever knows what is around the next corner.
 

Chris Roberts- fitness / endurance athlete

The best thing I was taught was:
Resilience, It’s amazing how far you can push yourself. Integrity, being honest to those around you, but most importantly with yourself.
I gained my best qualities from parents, spending time on courses with the army, being around high performance athletes at Loughborough and one of my best friends Ali White.
I have also learnt a lot from quotes of inspirational people.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
Arnold Schwarzenegger…….. seriously (must have been those 80’s movies!)

My greatest weakness is:
Saying ‘Yes’ to everything, in an effort to keep everyone (friends, family, colleagues) happy, tiring myself out as a result.
Oh, and cookies!

In another life my job would be:
Run cycle tours round the Alps in the Summer time, followed by being a ski instructor / guide in the winter.
Otherwise I’d have been in the army.

The three people who most inspire me:
Dad – From being made unemployed to starting his own successful business from scratch.
Lance Armstrong
Richard Branson

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
Always believe in yourself.

Sabirul Islam–Young entrepreneur, public speaker and author

The best thing I was taught was:
The power behind self belief and how it can help create opportunities for future success.

When I was a child I wanted to be:
Like what everyone else in my school wanted to be...A professional footballer!

My greatest weakness is:
Always finding it hard to say no to someone.

In another life my job would be:
A movie star! As I use to love singing, dancing and acting!

The three people who most inspire me:
My cousin who I’ve always followed in life ever since childhood. Maybe he’s just a year older but he opened my eyes into entrepreneurship.

My parents, growing up in very tough backgrounds and having faced so much in negative history, they made me realise how important it is to not follow society but your own vision.

Arsene Wenger...Why? He taught to see life ‘the beautiful way’, do what I do, ‘the beautiful way’ and that will lead to success. His inspiration made me understand that I will have to always enjoy what I do to be able to bring happiness to my life.

What has driven you, to get where you are today?
To be able to say to others that I was able to overcome the difficulties that life threw at me, through family problems, personal difficulties and most importantly to have made myself be heard in a society that has seen very little light at the end of the tunnel. I just wanted to be able to open my eyes to the bigger picture and believe that there is more to life than just waking up, watching telly and playing with friends!