Keep Living-ambassadors

A few years ago we decided, in continuation of our commitment in DHIF, to also engage in individual sponsorships of top athletes within disability sport. So far we have had four “Keep Living ambassadors” affiliated. By setting new, exiting goals these athletes continuously challenge themselves as well as the conventional understanding of the surroundings of what is possible. Each athlete illustrates and complements the values of Pressalit Group as the sponsorships relate the attitude of life and performances of the disabled athletes to especially the products of Pressalit Care. At the same time, we are happy to participate in supporting these athletes in order for them to be able to focus 100% on their practice and goals.

Karen Jacobsen - Denmark

In recent years we have been sponsoring the Danish cyclist Karen Jacobsen. She has been spastic all her life and in her childhood she was informed that she would never be able to ride a bike. At the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004, Karen won gold in the timetrial and two years later she won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the World Championships in Switzerland. Deservedly she received Pressalit Cares Keep Living award in 2006 - not only because of her achievements, but especially because of her great charm and winner mentality. Karen has a great attitude to life, which cannot avoid infecting all others. That is why Karen is the perfect example of a Keep Living-ambassador.

René Nielsen - Denmark

René Nielsen was the first disabled athlete to be appointed Keep Living ambassador, and during a number of years we have established a close and fruitful co-operation. René is missing both legs due to a train accident but is none the less a European champion, a Danish champion, a world champion and has set world records within so different sports as water skiing, wheel chair basket and tennis. Lately, he won three PL-medals in athletics. René Nielsen is a man, who does not accept limitations of any kind, and his next project is to become the first disabled person to complete an “Ironman” on Hawaii – a very ambitious project that requires a performance out of the ordinary. However, we are strongly convinced that René will accomplice this challenge also.

Besides his sport activities René studies Sports at the University of Copenhagen and acts as a coach and a consultant through his own company, “Uncool coaching”.

Cato Zahl Pedersen - Norway

In 2005, Pressalit Group entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Norwegian Cato Zahl and his “Cho Oyu Unarmed Expedition”. An expedition with the goal to climb the sixth highest mountain of the Himalayas, Cho Oyu (8.201 meters). On 1 October 2005 he obtained this goal.

In 1973, Cato Zahl lost both his arms in a high voltage accident. He overcame the limitations of his disability and became one of Norway’s most successful disabled athletes with 14 Paralympic medals during the years 1980-1994. Besides these achievements, Cato Zahl has also been the CEO of several large Norwegian companies, and in 1994 he took part in an expedition with the aim of reaching the South Pole on ski – a trip of 1.400 km.

Cato Zahl is used to extraordinary performances as he continuously moves boundaries for what is possible and is also a much requested lecturer. Cato Zahl has, like René Nielsen, participated in various Pressalit Care arrangements.

Manuela Schmermund - Germany

Latest we entered into an agreement with the German shooter, Manuela Schmermund, who since 1999 has shown impressive international results within disabled shooting. Among her triumphs are several European championships, first place at the world league table in air rifle, and two PL-medals. Manuela Schmermund is paralysed from the waist down after a traffic accident in 1992. But her level of ambition is undamaged. Next goal is gold in both air and sports rifle at PL in Beijing in 2008 - and preferably a new world record.
Back to Sponsorships