Introducing Glen Gerreyn…
A point in time, the biggest set back…
Glen Gerreyn a QLD representative sprinter was set for a promising career in athletics with a dream of going to the 2000 Olympics, when his life took a dramatic turn for the worst and at 18 he was diagnosed with the incurable disease Ulcerative Colitis. Glen had two choices: to perpetuate an existence, or choose to fight back & have a life. Glen chose the latter.
With the $2 he had left from his disability pension, Glen pursued one of his dreams of starting a Youth Centre in his hometown. This city at the time had very little to keep young people entertained and out of trouble. Through sponsorship and fundraising Glen developed a fully functional venue, known as the X-treme Youth and Community Centre.
Winning in life, overcoming adversity…
The X-treme Youth and Community Centre had 800 members and its facilities included: a fully equipped gymnasium; a motivational training room where body building and personal development programs were conducted; a training centre for boxing, Tae Kwon Do and wrestling; a full size basketball court; billiard tables; an internet café; games arcade and much more. Glen ran community youth events and dance parties at this centre, and attracted up to 3500 young people at any one event.
Success Achieved…
As this venture developed Glen decided to commit himself to excellence in community development and empowering young people to reach their full potential. Surplus funds from the Community Centre enabled Glen to initiate an Emergency Food Relief Program that to date has distributed 20,000 food parcels to needy families in the Redcliffe area. Glen has been well recognised for his efforts:
- 1998 Young Australian of the Year Queensland Community Service
- 1999 Young Australian of the Year National Finalist
- 1999 Queens Trust Young Achiever Award
- 1999 Redcliffe Young Citizen of the Year
- 1999 Quest Business Achiever
With his continued success with the X-treme Youth and
Community Centre and an increased community profile, he
commenced a full-time career as a motivational speaker and
peak performance coach in high schools. Having learnt to lift
himself out of difficult situations, Glen began to inspire a
generation that often experiences a sense of hopelessness to
hope against all odds. The momentum that developed in the
high school seminars prompted his move to Sydney in order to
expand and reshape his organisation.
Oxygen to the soul…
In 2004 Glen founded Oxygen Factory, a company that exists to inspire and
breathe hope into the souls of our nation's people. Oxygen Factory changes
lives by bringing a message of hope via seminars and resources for high school
students, parents, teachers, community organisations & businesses. Oxygen
Factory is fast becoming Australia's finest provider of personal development,
motivation, leadership and values training.
A message of HOPE…
As a highly sought after communicator Glen speaks to more than 100,000 people each year throughout Australasia. Glen is invited to speak to schools, community groups, youth conferences and businesses to offer education, excellence and empowerment. Challenging your employees to reach their potential by focusing on achieving a balanced lifestyle through health and well being.
Advocate, a voice…
Glen Gerreyn speaks with passion and power and has the gift of encoding today's data into tomorrow's dialect. The delivery of his messages leaves one inspired, motivated and transformed. He has his crosshairs focused on provoking thought, knowledge and action as he delivers a compelling message that liberates souls and promotes health and well being to drive your company to the next level.
Beauty to behold…
Glen lives in Sydney with his wife Belinda and daughters Grace and Eden.
What Belinda (Glen's wife) has to say…
"There are two things you notice about Glen, Firstly the energy that oozes from him with every word and every angle he holds his body makes you wonder where your dose of life got lost this morning.
You conclude it was probably redirected to his biceps! Then secondly
what he expects of his audiences makes you wish the ground would
swallow you and end it all before his message truly takes effect. Does
he actually mean we must stand from this comfortable chair and take
some action to change our world? You see the big dilemma is that
Glen Gerreyn believes in the potential and abilities of his audiences
and knows in his heart of hearts that they are capable of more than
what they are currently achieving. It is for this reason he leaps from his
bed each day to deliver this message to his next unsuspecting
audience.
There is a new day approaching when in front of you a crazy, bald headed black man will appear with microphone in hand. His truly incurable disease of hope, passion and discipline just may infect you and change your world forever. You will not remain the same."