Race Across the Gower: Switch the Play Takes on 20-Mile Challenge with Partner Your PT to Support Athletes Beyond Sport
Posted on: 29 July 2026 by Switch the Play
Members of the Switch the Play team, including CEO, Rob Young MBE, Fundraising Director Fi Collins, Account Director Ben Breeze, and Fundraising, Events and Community Fundraiser Amy Rose O'Hanlon, proudly joined YOUR Personal Training for this year's Race Across the Gower Challenge, taking on a demanding 20-mile route across one of the UK's most spectacular coastlines to support athletes as they transition beyond professional sport.
From breathtaking coastal views and rugged cliff paths to challenging sand dunes and soaring summer temperatures, the event was a true test of resilience, teamwork and determination. Bringing together personal trainers, gym members, partners and supporters, the challenge wasn't just about crossing the finish line - it was about making a meaningful difference to the lives of athletes navigating life after sport.
A partnership creating opportunities beyond sport
The Race Across the Gower Challenge is part of Switch the Play's partnership with YOUR Personal Training, one of the UK's leading personal training brands. Together, creating new opportunities for athletes by providing structured support as they transition from elite sport into sustainable careers beyond competition.
Retirement from professional sport can be one of life's most challenging transitions for sportspeople. Around 70% of athletes leave sport unexpectedly, often due to injury, deselection or contracts not being renewed, leaving many facing uncertainty around their identity, wellbeing and future career.
Switch the Play's partnership with YOUR Personal Training is designed to help change that.
Together, providing athletes with access to personalised mentoring, career guidance, mental wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, and a clear pathway into the fitness industry through recognised qualifications and long-term career opportunities. By combining expertise in athlete transition with YOUR Personal Training's industry-leading career pathways, the partnership is helping athletes build fulfilling futures beyond the game.
CEO, Rob Young MBE, explains:
At Switch the Play, our focus is always on the athlete and supporting them in what's next. We're so grateful to YOUR Personal Training for recognising the value and impact of the work we do. Together, we're providing a structured, supportive route for athletes to explore their identity, strengthen their wellbeing and build long-term careers after sport.
Continuing the conversation
To mark the partnership, Switch the Play's Athlete Engagement Manager, Imelda Phillips, recently joined the YOUR PT POD podcast, where she shared her own journey from international athletics to supporting athletes through career transition. The conversation explores why structured transition support matters and how partnerships like this are creating meaningful opportunities for athletes across the UK.
Special thanks
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, volunteered, donated and supported the Race Across the Gower event. Special thanks also go to Aaron McCulloch, James Lorey and the entire YOUR Personal Training team for organising such a memorable challenge and for their continued commitment to supporting athletes beyond professional sport.
Every step taken and every pound raised helps Switch the Play Foundation continue providing personalised support that empowers athletes to navigate life beyond sport with confidence.
Together, we're ensuring that the end of a sporting career isn't the end of opportunity - it's the beginning of an exciting new chapter! Find out more about the partnership here.
