Funding boost for Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls
Archived press release
Date Published: 13/01/12
Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls meet AVDC, AVCT and Sports Aid representatives
Talented athletes in Aylesbury Vale are to be awarded funding to help them achieve their sporting goals.
Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Aylesbury Vale Community Trust have donated £6,000 each to SportsAid, a charity which provides financial assistance to Britain's amateur sportsmen and women.
The money will be distributed to London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls who live or train in the district to assist their development by covering some of the costs associated with their sports including coaching, equipment, travel and competition entry fees.
Recipients of the funding are: Ben Gregory (Athletics), Charlie Walker (Sitting Volleyball), Ellen White (Football), Huw Goodwin (Handball), Monica Relph (Rowing), Pam Relph (Rowing), Craig Gibbons (Swimming) and Lucy Chenery (Swimming).
Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Aylesbury Vale District Council, said: “2012 is going to be a special year for this country, and here in Aylesbury Vale we will have a significant role to play in the delivery of a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games. Many international athletes will be using Vale venues to help their preparations for the Games and Stoke Mandeville, as the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, will be the focus for many major events including the Paralympic Flame Festival on 28 August.
“For a number of years, AVDC has been supporting local talented athletes to take part in the greatest sporting events this country has ever hosted and we are delighted to be joined for this Olympic and Paralympic year by the Aylesbury Vale Community Trust in supporting these athletes who have the potential to be ambassadors for our community on the greatest sporting
stage of all. A great deal of time and money is required to reach the top of any chosen sport and we want to do what we can to help our sporting stars in their journey towards success.”
Miles Buckinghamshire, Chair of the Aylesbury Vale Community Trust (AVCT), said: “We see these sportsmen and women as Aylesbury Vale’s best hopes for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and I’m delighted AVCT is able to help them. We know that these athletes will inspire new and upcoming athletes and we hope that they continue to progress and compete at the highest level of competition.”
For more information on the council’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Action Plan, please see www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure-culture or call 01296 585301.