Olympic rowing and TV star to address Your Future 09’ event

STAR of BBC 2's ˜On Thin Ice' and two times Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell OBE will address young people from the Basildon District at the Your Future 09 event being held at the Towngate Theatre on Friday 2 October.

The event will run from 10am to 4pm and is aimed at 16 - 24-year-olds from the Basildon District who are looking for some help with careers and training advice and help with their future direction.

James Cracknell won gold at Sydney 2000 as part of the legendary coxless fours of Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, and Tim Foster. After four years of intense training and determination, James repeated this incredible performance in Athens, winning his second Olympic Gold medal in a nail biting final with Sir Matthew Pinsent, Steve Williams and Ed Coode. James is also a six times world champion.

In 2005/2006 James famously took his life in his hands to row across the Atlantic with TV presenter friend Ben Fogle with all proceeds going to Children in Need.

The BBC charted their tumultuous progress with a hit documentary series Through Hell and High Water, which aired in February to great acclaim. James used his motivational skills to encourage Ben to not only complete the challenge but to win it. The men survived dehydration and capsize, to complete and adventure of a lifetime.

This year the duo got together again, together with Ed Coats, a Bristol-based doctor as ˜Team QinetiQ' took part in the inaugural South Pole Race. The team took 18 days, five hours and 10 minutes to complete the 770km race, coming second overall behind the Norwegian Team. Experiencing temperatures as low as minus 40 °C, the race was filmed by the BBC for the series 'On Thin Ice' and was aired in Summer 2009.

James will deliver a motivational speech at the Your Future event, aiming to help motivate and encourage young people to explore their future direction, seek employment or further training, and offer some pointers on leading a successful life.

James Cracknell is scheduled to speak from 1-2 p.m.

The event is being funded by the Basildon Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and is part of the LSP and Basildon Council and Basildon Renaissance Partnershipsesponse to the recession, and its ongoing commitment to help young people access skills, education and employment.

It will focus on seminars and skills session in areas such as CV writing, career development and personal development, and interview techniques for 16 - 24-year-olds.

Several partners will be involved including the Essex Connexions Centre and Job Centre Plus, the Army and local college and training providers who will be on hand to discuss future career prospects. There will also be exhibitions, talks on career development, prize draws and much more.

For more information on the event visit the ˜Your Future 09' page on facebook, or email training@basildon.gov.uk.