We are delighted that 14 Time Paralympic Gold medallist and multiple World and European Champion, Sir Lee Pearson CBE, is supporting BRIT and championing the annual BRIT Challenge.
Affectionately known as ‘The Godfather’ of British Para dressage, Sir Lee has 14 Paralympic medals in a career that started with three golds back at 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. A further three followed at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, before a team gold, individual silver and bronze in 2012 Paralympic Games in London. A further silver and gold followed at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. In 2021, Lee won a further three gold medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Over the course of his career, Sir Lee has won 30 gold medals at European, World and Paralympic level.
“As a member of Paralympics GB for over twenty years, I have trained and competed with many young riders and understand the pressures that young adults and students face; especially those within the LGBTQ community who can often feel isolated and alone. It is vital that young adults and students with mental health challenges know where to access professional support when they need it and I am delighted that BRIT have entered into a special relationship with the MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health charity and are promoting their services. It was a pleasure to support BRIT at the very beginning of their journey and I am thrilled to see how they have adapted their Vision to deliver the annual BRIT Challenge as an inclusive feelgood February fundraiser to support young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. It’s great to see that the British Paralympic Association are supporting BRIT and so many Paralympians and elite para athletes from all sports have already joined the BRIT Ambassador family. BRIT Ambassadors are promoting the BRIT Challenge at universities and college of their choice, sharing their lived experience, encouraging student participation, helping to destigmatising mental health and championing equality, diversity and inclusion. This is an innovative and inspiring charity and I hope many more Paralympians and para athletes will unite as BRIT Ambassadors to support young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. I wish every university and college student taking part in the annual BRIT Challenge the very best of luck with their distance and fundraising targets”. Sir Lee Pearson CBE Great Britain Para Equestrian and Para Dressage Rider
14 Time Paralympic Gold medallist and multiple World and European Champion
Sir Lee was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University in July 2005.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2001 New Years Honours for services to disabled sports, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 New Years Honours for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Years Honours for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport.
Sir Lee was awarded his knighthood in the 2017 New Years Honours for services to equestrianism.
He is an ambassador for Caudwell Children, Donna Louise Children's Hospice and Midlands Air Ambulance, and also helps at his local shelter for the homeless.
Sir Lee was the first openly gay member of the British team and is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
You can read more about Sir Lee on the Paralympics GB website.