Helen Skelton - Born 1983
British Television Personality
I feel the need to apologise that it has been some time since I last updated the blog. I have many Wonderful Women to write about and feel guilty for the delay. It's been a busy month and work, sunshine and trying to be a Wonderful Woman myself have all got in the way!
I am pleased to be writing today about a young, Wonderful Woman, who I believe to be an excellent role model to girls in Britain, at a time where they often seem to be force-fed a constant stream of access to women with little talent, intelligence or even good manners. In contrast, Helen Skelton is a shining example of all of these things.
In 2008, Helen became a presenter on one of British television's longest running and most loved children's shows, Blue Peter. Like other great presenters of the show before her, Helen threw herself into the role, bringing a wide-range of subject matter, innovative ideas, news, creativity and global awareness into the lives of the average British youngster.
She has an unaffected enthusiasm... It’s clear why Blue Peter producers chose her to inspire their young viewers.
Jolyon Attwooll, The Daily Telegraph
Helen has become a dedicated and high-profile charity fundraiser, taking on some extraordinary challenges in order to raise money for the causes she believes in. In 2009, she completed the 78-mile Namibian Ultra Marathon, only the second woman ever to have done so. A year later, Helen took on and conquered the mammouth task of kayaking the entire length of the Amazon River, paddling solo for 2,010 miles in order to raise money for Sports Relief. Last year, she braved walking across a tightrope between chimneys at Battersea Power Station, 66 metres high, raising more than £250,000 for BBC's Comic Relief. Her latest challenge took place earlier this year, where she became the first person to reach the South Pole by bicycle, she covered 329 miles by kite ski, 103 by bike, and 68 by cross-country ski, in doing so she became the first person to claim a world record for the fastest 100km by kite ski, in seven hours 28 minutes.
For all her achievements and successes, Helen still manages to maintain the appearance of your average northern, girl-next-door, down-to-earth, friendly and thoughtful. If we are looking for a Wonderful Woman to inspire the women of tomorrow, here is the perfect person for the job.
You should always encourage people. The worst that can happen is that they fail.
Helen Skelton
