Community sport thrives thanks to the passion of its volunteers, and Sport Wales March Legend, Karen Gibbins, is one such volunteer.
Her outstanding dedication in developing women's cycling in her community saw her awarded Volunteer of the Year at the Swansea Sport Awards this month.
Karen, a librarian from Birchgrove in Swansea, started cycling 2 years ago. In 2016 she decided to start a Ladies Club as part of Action Bikes Cycling Club and has been instrumental in securing Lottery funding to help grow the club.
With over 100 ladies encouraged to get off the couch and cycle 40 miles over 10 weeks, it has been a huge success, thanks to her hard work and motivation.
She also started the Swansea Ladies Cycle Challenge 2016 to encourage women in Swansea to take up the sport and takes out 30+ riders weekly through the Winter as a Breeze Champion.
Karen, a Level 1 and 2 Breeze Cycling instructor, knows the physical and mental benefits of cycling and sport in general. She has volunteered her time to help others learn more about road cycling and enter events. Her passion for cycling is contagious!
She's taken part in events herself, including the Paris to Amsterdam bike ride for the Paul Popham fund which helps renal patients across Wales to receive a better quality of life. She also took part in the Ride to Somme and featured on BBC Countryfile on Remembrance Sunday last year.
Georgina Harper, National Development Manager at Welsh Cycling said: "Women's cycling is continuing to grow as part of our SheCycles Wales project, reaching out to women across Wales and getting them on their bikes. Karen is a fantastic ambassador for women's cycling, leading rides as a Breeze Champion and encouraging women to take their cycling further with her local club Action Bikes CC in Swansea. Karen is one of many women who are inspiring more women to cycle in Wales."
Volunteers like Karen are helping other women get fit and find a sport they love. Well done Karen #YouSportLegend
If you want to get involved, join your local Breeze Bike Ride.
