THE SPRINGBOARD INTO A FANTASTIC WINTER PARALYMPICS

Photo by: Steve Lindridge of iDEAL iMAGES

Last weekend (6–7 February) ParalympicsGB held a fantastic celebration in Edinburgh for those who have been selected for the British Paralympic ski team and curling team. The ski team were also celebrating the announcement of extra financial support from charity Get Kids Going! Team members and staff attended a formal dinner at Edinburgh Castle and were invited to the Six Nations rugby match between Scotland and France.

The official Paralympic team of six mono-skiers and one visually impaired skier was announced last week. The skiers are: three times paralympian Russell Docker, double paralympian Sean Rose and newcomers Tim Farr, Kelly Gallagher, Talan Skeels-Piggins, Jane Sowerby and Anna Turney.

They were celebrating their selection for the Paralympics, Sean Rose’s historic World Cup gold medal in January – a first for British skiing – and some great financial news. The skiers now have extra backing from charity Get Kids Going! and from the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme (TASS). Together they are providing the main funding for the team’s holding camp in Winter Park, Colorado.

 “I am absolutely delighted that Get Kids Going! have become partial sponsors of the British Disabled Ski Team at this vital time. I send my best wishes to the team for all the success in Canada,” said Lord Sebastian Coe, the president of Get Kids Going!  

“The offer of extra funding from Get Kids Going! is marvellous. It will help to ensure that the skiers can fully focus on their performance at the upcoming winter games, without having to worry about the cost.

“We are also looking for commercial partners, which would be the best way to guarantee our performance year-on-year. However, this cash injection means that we can now concentrate on the matters in hand – bringing home medals,” explained Dave Chugg, team manager for the British Disabled Ski Team.

For further information on sponsoring the team or making a donation, please email Rachael Bonfield on Rachael@solutionfactors.com or call 01908 587793.

-ENDS-

Issued on behalf of the British Disabled Ski Team by Rachael Bonfield, Solution Factors Ltd.

Email: Rachael@solutionfactors.com

Tel: 01908 587793

Photography: Please credit the photograph to Steve Lindridge of iDEAL iMAGES   

Notes to Editors

The British Disabled Ski Team was formed over 20 years ago, under the care of the National Handicapped Skiing Association (NHSA).

Following the merger of the NHSA and other snowsports organisations, in March 2004, under the umbrella charity of Disability Snowsport UK, the team commenced its development strategy for a more progressive management and training structure for all athletes.

We...

·         provide an environment of support for all aspiring and talented adaptive ski racers

·         afford the best opportunities for self-development and creating a culture of supreme achievement and success

·         deliver an increasing number of professional athletes with star capabilities representing their team and country, realised through a series of comprehensively defined performance pathways.

The British Disabled Ski Team is funded by:

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme – http://www.tass.gov.uk

SportsAid – http://www.sportsaid.org.uk

UK Sport – http://www.uksport.gov.uk

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