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Justin Levene

@justinlevene

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That took some time. But alot of fun on the way. Massive thank you to @justinlevene for startingt he obsession. #bjj
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Stay curious Find the humour Ask for help Control what you can Put in the effort A glimpse into some of the inspiring words Justin shared during the workshop. Justin reminded us that not every struggle is visible, but that does not make it any less real - and shared simple principles that can speak to anyone facing a challenge. Thank you, @justinlevene , for bringing honesty, strength and clarity into the room, and for creating a moment of real connection. #RFURwanda #rideforunity #Resilience #unity #inspiration
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The smiles on the faces say it all - a wonderful and inspirational @ride.for_unity event in Kigali! A community ride followed by an engaging workshop talking about breaking down barriers and creating pathways towards unity Hosted at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, we also had time to honor Rwanda’s history and contemplate how remembrance informs the rebuilding Truly an inspirational and joyous day! 🇷🇼🚴‍♀️🌟 #risetogether #rwanda #unity
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Organising an event from thousands of miles away is never simple. It’s certainly not something I take for granted. What we managed to create last Sunday, July 5th, in Kigali, on such a meaningful day for the Rwandan community, was incredibly special. I wasn’t there in person. But thanks to an extraordinary group of people who share the same vision I do, people who genuinely believe in bringing communities together, building stronger relationships, and creating positive change, we were able to deliver an event that was empowering, meaningful, respectful, and inspiring. This was actually the first event I’ve organized since my visit to Rwanda last August. I’m incredibly grateful that I found the right people to carry this vision forward and turn it into reality. The feedback I received from participants after the event genuinely touched me. Reading their thoughts, hearing what they took away from the experience, and seeing the impact it had on them gave me renewed motivation to keep creating opportunities like this, even when organizing them is challenging for so many different reasons. To everyone on the ground who dedicated their time, energy, and heart to making this happen- thank you❣️ And to every participant who chose to show up, engage, and be part of this journey- thank you❣️ It’s always easier to find reasons not to come. You chose to be there, and together we created something that truly mattered. This is only the beginnig ;) #rideforunity #rwanda #kigali #community #creatingimpact
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What an unforgettable day! Riding for Unity and Reconciliation was about so much more than cycling. It was a day of connection, learning, collaboration , and creating lasting impact. We rode together as one community, united by a shared purpose. During the workshop, @justinlevene inspired us with his incredible journey to the Paralympic Games, reminding us that curiosity, determination and resilience can turn even the biggest dreams into reality. Dana left us with a powerful message that will stay with us: headwinds don’t only exist on the bike they are part of everyday life. What matters is finding the strength to keep moving forward. One of the most meaningful moments of the day was laying flowers at the resting place of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and taking a moment of silence to remember, honor, and pay our deepest respects. It was a powerful reminder that unity, remembrance, and reconciliation are values we must continue to carry with us every day. A heartfelt thank you to Ride for Unity for the kind invitation and for organizing such a meaningful event that brings people together through cycling and inspiring conversations. I feel truly honored to have been part of it. If you missed this edition, don’t miss the next one! Follow @ride.for_unity and be part of community 📷 @goldlens_studio
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Unity begins when we choose to move forward together. On July 5, Ride For Unity is honoured to bring together young entrepreneurs, students, innovators and community leaders in Kigali for a day dedicated to Unity and Reconciliation. The day will begin with a community cycling ride starting and finishing at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, symbolising the power of moving forward—together. Following the ride, Ride For Unity Ambassadors @justinlevene and @dana_dard will lead an interactive leadership workshop exploring how unity, collaboration, mutual responsibility and service can strengthen communities and inspire the next generation of leaders. This event is part of the ongoing work of the Ride For Unity Kigali Hub, our local centre committed to creating opportunities for connection, leadership and community impact. We believe that real leadership is not measured by what we achieve alone, but by what we build together. We ride together. We learn together. We build together. Register link in the first comment. #RideForUnity #UnityAndReconciliation #Kigali #Leadership #Community
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Swipe left to see who came to training this morning 😎 Another historic day in the record books for @reorgcharity thanks to the relentless hard work of @sam__sheriff and the team. This morning somehow Sam managed to get His Royal Highness King Charles to visit @rogergracieacademy to meet some of the REORG beneficiaries and hear all about the REORG mission. If you saw all of the people who were in the room you’d understand what’s different about JiuJitsu and how it breaks down barriers and brings people together. This morning we were in a room with Kings, rap stars, social media powerhouses, high ranking military officers, extremely successful business men/women, JiuJitsu icons, heroes from the Armed Forces and Emergency Services world and many more that I look up to and respect. The morning was made extra special when I got the see my friend and fellow REORG Trustee @trentscanlen get presented with his JiuJitsu Black Belt (By King Charles 😳) and I got a signed book from the JiuJitsu G.O.A.T @rogergracie who also presented the King with his White Belt 😎 It’s hard to put into words how incredible cool this morning was. I’m grateful to be a part of it 🙏🏻🤙🏻🙏🏻
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Sometimes we meet people who embody the true spirit of “Never Say Die.” The depth of their resolve is impossible to fathom. No tragedy can diminish their zest for life I met Justin Levene at the #rideforunity event in Rwanda. He was superbly fit, handsome, vivacious, and always ready with a joke- often at his own expense. Yet I felt a twinge of sadness seeing him in a wheelchair. Later, the event's founder, Daniel Bernard, told me that Justin was not born paralysed. He was a gifted athlete. For a minor back pain, doctors recommended surgery. What was to be a routine procedure, left him completely paralysed from waist down  Several operations followed, but none could reverse the damage. Justin, who once weighed 107 kgs of pure muscle, was reduced to a skeletal ghost of 45 kgs.  For a young sportsman to lose his legs is devastating. But the emotional toll is perhaps even greater. For two years, Justin remained in hospital. Consumed by anger, despair, and depression, he saw no way forward. But then, from the depths of despair, he rose like a phoenix.       He resumed exercising and soon discovered wheelchair racing. He went on to win 29 wheelchair marathons across the world. Then, he took up Jiu-Jitsu and became a two-time World Champion. Later, he wheeled himself across the United States—from Miami to Los Angeles—in just 48 days, raising £200,000 to support people with disabilities.       The greatest lesson I learned from Justin is that while tragedy may visit any of us, Despair is not Destiny. Circumstances can limit our bodies, but they need not imprison our Spirit. In the end, it is not our setbacks that define us, but our response to them. He often says, we have only one life. We must make the most of the limited time we have. We must continue to dream, to strive, and above all, continue to find joy in living, no matter the circumstances. And above all, we should carry people along.  Justin embodies the ultimate triumph of human spirit: not merely to endure adversity, but to transform it into purpose; not merely to survive, but to inspire; not merely to overcome, but to help others believe that they can overcome too. Privileged to call him my friend!
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The most dangerous weapons are not bombs, missiles, guns, or bullets. The most dangerous weapons are WORDS. They inflict wounds that can linger for centuries, sowing seeds of division, resentment, and hatred. Over time, these words grow shriller and more poisonous, innumerable lives have been lost and entire generations scarred because we failed to choose our words with wisdom and restraint. Even in our personal lives, cruel words wound more deeply than any physical blow. They can destroy relationships beyond repair, and inflict emotional injuries that last a lifetime. Whether in politics, religion, education, or entertainment, words are being weaponised as never before Words are perhaps the most cost-effective weapon. They cost nothing, yet their consequences can be devastating. Weapons have a limited reach, but words have no boundaries. Weapons are regulated by laws, treaties, and institutions, but words face few restraints Social media has given every individual the ability to reach millions without any accountability. Never before in human history has this power been vested in every hand. And its consequences are sure not pretty: outrage amplified, divisions deepened, and anger monetised. Everybody’s right to freedom of expression has turned the world into an inferno which will burn us all down.   But if words can Hurt, words can Heal too.  Words give voice to Love, Wonder, Compassion, and Hope. Woven into poetry, transformed into song, and expressed through philosophies of wisdom and kindness, words are among humanity's greatest creations. Civilisations are built with them, cultures are preserved through them, and human bonds are strengthened by them. The future may well be shaped less by the weapons and more by the Words. And so, before we speak, write, post, or share, we would do well to remember: a single sentence can outlive a lifetime and can change the course of a human heart.  Let our words be remembered not for the wounds they inflicted, but for the love they infused, for the hearts they connected, and the smiles they brought. Because in an age where every voice echoes across the world, kindness is no longer merely a virtue—its a necessity.
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On Wednesday, I formally received my @gllsportfoundation training award @kensingtonandchelseacouncil . I am immensely proud of this. I started my journey in sport at 23 years old. I was never an athlete or sporty as a kid, in fact quite the opposite. I think that's what sets my journey apart too. Obviously my disability plays a part in it but the fact that I started later than many and built something from the ground up is very special. If you had told the younger me that he would be a supported athlete, there's no way he would have believed you. I hope that my journey shows anyone that they can accomplish more than they imagined if they just stay consistent and believe in themselves even in the moments where you want to give up. I've had many. Thank you to my friends, family, coaches and anybody else who has been involved. This would not be possible without all of you. Let's see what else we can accomplish on this journey 🫡🥋💙. --- #sportsaward #adaptiveathlete #cerebralpalsy #inclusivesport #jiujitsu
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Day 1 of the @ridetoinspireuk cycle is complete 🚴‍♀️💗 A team of 15 men and women cycled 65 miles from Silverstone to Dudley, to raise funds for the @inspiringleadership.foundation We were extremely lucky in that we managed to dodge most of the rain and despite strong headwinds, there were plenty of smiles, stories, and encouragement along the way from each another. One of the best things about challenges like this are the conversations, camaraderie and banter, that remind us how powerful human connection can be. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us all today, especially @leigh_bowmanperks @alex_garment_ and @kirstwarrender Tomorrow’s challenge is even bigger with a 75 mile mile cycle from Dudley to Chester. The legs will be a little tired but the ride continues and very much hoping the weather behaves! 🙏
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We are proud to launch 1402, The Golf Trust’s fundraising campaign for 2026! Building on the success of Going the Extra Mile, this next chapter focuses on funding the ongoing delivery and impact of our Paragolfers — ensuring we can continue to remove barriers and create meaningful access to golf for disabled people making sure that Leisure is not a luxury. But the challenge we are highlighting is bigger than golf. Research from Scope shows that disabled households face, on average, an additional £1,402 per month in costs just to maintain a “normal” standard of living compared to non-disabled households. A figure that represents a significant and often invisible barrier to accessing leisure, sport, and recreation. To bring this reality to life, a team will return to Lofoten Links to take on an extraordinary challenge: playing 1,402 holes of golf in 4 days. Each hole representing the daily financial barrier faced by disabled people and the scale of inequality that still exists. This is more than a challenge. It is a statement of purpose. Through 1402, we are raising awareness and continuing our mission to ensure that disability is never a barrier to participation in golf. Donate in Bio 🎥- @itsashharris . #golf #disability #community #instagolf golflife
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