Champion athletes Greg Rutherford and Perri Shakes-Drayton reveal how they’ll be mentoring children to aim high and achieve their goals

Every child has dreams, some big, some small. But whatever those dreams are, knowing they can become a reality and striving to achieve them can lead to a successful and happy life.

Pursuing your ambitions may, however, take a little encouragement, and that’s why the Disney Aim High project is stressing the importance of mentors, with the help of top-class athletes Greg Rutherford and Perri Shakes-Drayton.

Olympic long jump gold medallist Rutherford didn’t have to look far for the encouragement that he needed to achieve sporting success.

“My mentor and inspiration has always been my dad,” he says.

“He’s the one who gave me the confidence and determination to push ahead and strive for my dreams. He was there to encourage me when times were tough and I felt like giving up too, but also to give me realistic advice.

“I couldn’t be where I am today without him.”

Rutherford and champion 400m hurdler Shakes-Drayton will be mentoring budding young athletes this summer through Disney Aim High, a mentorship initiative designed to inspire children aged seven-16 to define goals, reach for their dreams and have fun.

Shakes-Drayton says “determination and sacrifice” were what got her to the top of her sport, and stresses: “You have to work hard but it’s worth it. I just wanted to be the best that I can be.

“It’s important to give young people someone to look up to and who they can go to for advice and support.

“Not everybody is lucky enough to find something they’re great at and follow it all the way through – that’s why initiatives such as Disney’s Aim High are important to inspire and support kids’ ambitions.”

Disney Aim High is asking children to envision their own, unique Olympic event and enter their idea in an Aim High competition.

The winners will see their dreams become reality at an exclusive masterclass where one of the winning sports will be attempted by Rutherford and Shakes-Drayton, with the winning children having the opportunity to chat to the pair and get tips and advice on how to succeed in sport.

Shakes-Drayton adds: “The kids that we’ll be working with can ask us about how we achieved our goals, and we can hopefully point them in the right direction.”

 The Disney Aim High competition opens on April 2. Visit www.Disney.co.uk/aimhigh.