The Londoner joined fellow Olympians at the London Coaching Foundation's West End launch of their GO4KIDS2012 campaign.

 

 

The initiative aims to raise £1 million by 2012 and among those who were at the launch alongside Ohuruogu were Natasha Danvers, the Beijing Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist, and Dwain Chambers, the European indoor 60m champion.

 

The money will be used to sponsor promising young athletes and to develop and mentor up to 10,000 disadvantaged youngsters of various abilities via 'Have a Go' days.

 

Ohuruogu said: "If you offer children and young people a ladder to climb, you are offering them options that can change their lives.

 

"I’m a huge supporter of anything that gives the opportunity for all children of all ages to get involved in sports.

 

"The GO4KIDS campaign does."

 

The London Coaching Foundation (LCF) are a not-for-profit charitable Trust that deliver grassroots athletics programmes in London, sending elite coaches and international athletes into schools and colleges.

 

John Herbert, the former triple jumper who represented Britain in three Olympics, including the Winter Games in bobsleigh, who is the chief executive of the LCF, said: "This event proves you can start something with nothing.

 

"We hope people look at us as social entrepreneurs and mentors.

 

"The GO4KIDS2012 campaign will give inspiration to London’s disadvantaged young kids and our as yet undiscovered young sporting talent leading into 2012.

 

"This event is also a reminder that these former and current Olympic athletes and coaches take their work with the Foundation’s programmes very seriously and without their volunteering support we would not have kick-started the sporting lives of many young people.”