Sir Chris Hoy
UNICEF UK Ambassador
“There are huge problems to overcome and a massive mountain to climb but the situation can be improved with the right education and the right funding.
I would hope that we could go back to countries like Madagascar in 10 years’ time and see a massive difference.”
In 2017, Chris travelled to Madagascar to see UNICEF UK’s work to prevent and treat malnutrition. Travelling to Antsirabe in the central highlands, Chris visited a hospital where children who have more complicated cases of malnutrition are being treated and given therapeutic milk and peanut paste.
He also visited some community nutrition centres, where he witnessed children being measured and weighed to check their progress, and met families who were being educated about the importance of good nutrition and how to cook healthy, balanced meals.
In 2023 Chris attended an exhibition held in Edinburgh detailing the history of UNICEF. Chris met with two of the UNICEF UK Youth Advisory Board members, Arushi and Poppy, and they spoke about their contribution to the inspiring work of the organisation.
In 2014, Chris travelled to Malawi, where he saw how bicycles are a life-saving means of delivering medicine and health care to remote communities. Following on from that visit Chris proudly represented the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Unicef partnership, making a live appeal to the public for donations with James McAvoy at the Opening Ceremony, which resulted in a total of over £5 million being raised.
In July 2010 he met with pupils from Hartford High School in Cheshire, which is linked with SMK Raja Permaisuri Bainun School in Malaysia through the International Inspiration programme.
Sir Chris Hoy is jointly the most successful British Olympian of all time, winning six gold medals in track cycling across three Olympic Games.
Chris has been supporting UNICEF UK’s projects since 2009 through his role as an International Inspiration Ambassador, and was appointed a UNICEF UK Ambassador in 2013 in recognition of his valuable contribution to our work.
Chris has supported our campaign to reunite refugee families, which aimed to put pressure on the UK Government to change the rules that allow refugee children to reunite with their close family already living in the UK.
Chris continues to support our campaigning and fundraising work for children in danger around the world.
