Paralympian to support Henley community through Girlguiding

Ellen Buttrick will join the third Henley on Thames Brownies, supporting the community with litter picking and gardening at the River and Rowing Museum on June 4.

Ms Buttrick, who was a Brownie and Guide and now volunteers as a Brownie leader, attributes her rowing success to her time in Girlguiding.

Ellen Buttrick (Image: Girlguiding)

She said: "My Brown Owl at 5th Roundhay Brownies in Leeds was a fantastic individual and pushed me to believe that I really could achieve anything that I set my mind to.

"The self-belief and determination that was fostered during my time in Girlguiding has been a driving force in my success as an athlete to date, and I’m thrilled to be recognised as an ambassador as I want to inspire and empower girls in the same way."

Diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration, an inherited eye disorder which results in a gradual loss of vision, in her late teens, she gave up rowing briefly before joining the GB Para-rowing squad in 2018.

She went on to win four gold medals at the World Rowing Championships, European championships and the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

Angela Salt, Girlguiding CEO, said: "Ellen already dedicates so much of her time to Girlguiding and as an inspiring role model she will play an important role in helping us to reach even more girls.”