Written by James Godfrey, Managing Director of Lease Loop
As business owners, we understand the desire to follow a dream. We know that the path is never straightforward, we understand the commitment and we know that sometimes you just need somebody to believe in you.
A lady called Jay once gave me a chance, and it literally changed my life. Now, I want to repay that favour and help her daughter Molly achieve her dream – and to do it, I need your help. Let me give you a bit of context…
Once upon a time in 2004, in a snowy French Alpine village called Megève, I was on holiday at a successful ski instruction holiday business that was run by Jay Blatherwick. Danni, Lease Loop’s other co-founder, was working for Jay as a nanny at the time, which is how we met.
Little did we know that we would later marry, have children, and launch Lease Loop together. Little did Jay know that she would soon have a daughter, Molly Butler, who would become a Youth Olympic skier and member of the GB Europa Cup squad by the age of 19!
A skiing star was born
In 2004, I had a minor midlife crisis and concluded that I wanted to become a ski instructor. I asked Jay if I could make the jump from guest to employee. This path wasn’t normally open, but I was persistent and Jay decided it was easier to say yes than listen to my constant requests!
I returned as ski tech/chalet staff for the following season and it was a decision that ultimately allowed me to work as a ski instructor. More importantly, it led me to my wife, mother of my children, and business partner. It literally changed my life.
It was also a significant year for Jay and Molly, as it was this season that a six-month-old Molly Butler made her first of many annual winter trips to the resort. A year later, she made her debut on the snow, with little plastic skis and the guiding hands of her mum.
While Jay worked hard seven days a week running her business, Molly progressed through the local school system in Megève, where P.E. lessons were snow sports and the weekends were spent on the slopes. It wasn’t long before she joined a small ski club, where members were given more time to train in the winter season by the local schools. She really excelled from here, and the rest is history.
Chasing the dream
It was clear from speaking to Molly that competitive elite skiing was meant to be for her.
“I knew from a young age that becoming elite was achievable. I love winning as much as I love skiing, and I’m fiercely competitive. With idols like Tessa Worley to look up to, I’ve always put in the hard work to become a better athlete and used my passion as a springboard to succeed.”
After joining a local French club at the age of 12, Molly made the GB squad at 13, competing in international kids races and winning both British and French titles. It hasn’t always been plain-sailing for her though, and like any high-level competitive athlete, she’s had to battle through obstacles with sheer tenacity.
Now, Molly’s going into her fifth season as British champion for her age, sits in the world’s top 110, and is one of two female athletes who have been called up for the GB Europa Cup squad.
Commitment to the cause
GB Snowsports, the body that supports world-class British skiers, provides no funding. So for gifted individuals, it takes money and sacrifice to compete at the highest level – and Molly and Jay are doing this completely off their own backs.
Sure, they have made some connections along the way, including a great physio in Guildford who helps out a lot. But as far as training and travel are concerned, Molly and Jay have to follow the snow all year round. That means annual trips to New Zealand plus luggage, accommodation, vehicle hire, lift passes, coaches, trainers, and all the rest that goes into progressing as a world-class competitive skier.
All in, it costs approximately £90,000 per year to fund the vital competition and training that Molly needs. There’s no 5-star accommodation, no frills – this is the essential expense required to prepare and compete at the highest level. Plus, when you consider that she is up against fully funded athletes from skiing nations Austria and Switzerland, it really is a David vs Goliath situation, and they need all the help they can get.
Of course, this was their choice and this is by no means a sob story. But it is a reflection of the sheer determination and aspiration needed to follow a dream – something many of us business owners can relate to on some level, albeit with our feet on the ground behind a laptop rather than rattling down the side of a mountain!
Remember the name Molly Butler
We learned a lot about skiing from Jay all those years ago, but we also carried forward the most valuable lesson: opportunities can arise from building great relationships and being willing to take a chance.
Molly is now looking ahead to the 2030 Winter Olympics, which takes place where it all began for her in the French Alps. Jay is constantly on the hunt for sponsorship, grants, and donors to help get her there.
If you’re a skier, you want to support a young female athlete, or you know somebody who would, head to their GoFundMe page to learn more and support the cause.
We wish Molly the very best for the Europa Cup, and all the luck for making the World Cup and Olympic squads in the future! Visit her website to follow her journey.