A TEAM of 16 athletes from Annandale and Eskdale taking part in the Special Olympics next month have been given a double boost by staff at the Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station.
On behalf of Magnox North, Chapelcross site director Dave Wilson presented £2,000 worth of new polo shirts and fleeces to team members at a ceremony at the Everholm sports facility in Annan.
And representatives of the power plant's Snowball Fund, which is made up from voluntary donations by Chapelcross workforce and retired employees, gave a £1,500 donation.
Annandale and Eskdale Disability Sport, in partnership with Annandale and Eskdale Leisure Trust, has entered a team of 16 local athletes and 11 support staff to take part in the event, which will be the largest sporting event in Britain for people with a learning disability.
The team will stay for seven nights in Leicester from Friday, July 24 to Friday, July 31, and need to raise £14,000.
They will be part of the team representing the Scottish Borders and the athletes will be taking part in either swimming, athletics or five-a-side football.
The team members taking part in swimming are Sam Pattinson from Rigg, Emma Birley from Moffat and Stuart Stott and Mandy Harkness from Annan.
The footballers include Chris Corbett from Dumfries, Kevin Ellwood from Middlebie and Nigel Douglas, Kraig Proudfoot, Gregory Hartnell, Kevin Howard and Frank Drain from Trinity House, Lockerbie.
Taking part in the athletics competition will be Jamie Minto from Powfoot, Natasha Meikle from Trinity House, Lockerbie and Ian Anderson, Andrew Doyle and Joel Smith all of Annan.
Ann Minto, Chairperson of Annandale and Eskdale Disability Sport, said: "We are extremely grateful to Magnox North Chapelcross for their support and sponsorship of the team clothing. All the team members are getting really excited now about taking part in the Special Olympics in Leicester in July and we believe it will be a fantastic opportunity for all to take part in appropriate competition while making new friends and thoroughly gaining from the experience."
Chapelcross site director, Dave Wilson said: "The ongoing development and achievements of the Annandale and Eskdale Disability Team over the last few years has been one of the great sporting success stories for our region. Magnox North Chapelcross are delighted once again to be associated with this organisation as a major sponsor."
More than 2,700 athletes representing 18 Special Olympics regions across the UK will visit the city of Leicester over the seven day period along with 1,200 coaches and 1,500 volunteers. They will compete in a range of Olympic-style sports competitions across the city at 21 venues.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard, 1st July 2009
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