A PARALYMPIC hopeful has received vital support from a group of Coventry businesses ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.
Teenage wheelchair racing star Kare Adenegan has been granted £6,500 by the Midland Sports Centre for the Disabled Trust, which owns the Xcel Leisure Centre and the Study Inn Group on Corporation Street.
The generous sponsorship by the team behind the new Friargate business district will fund the purchase of a new, purpose-built state-of-the-art racing wheelchair and world-class training equipment in the build up to the games.
Kare was the youngest member of the GB team at last year’s IPC Athletics World Championship in Doha where she won two bronze medals in the T34 400 and 800 metre races.
The 15-year-old admitted having such widespread support from her home city is an honour – and said she was inspired by the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
She added: “For most of my life I was unable to take part in sports for health and safety reasons which left me frustrated.
“Watching the London 2012 Paralympic games changed all that.
“Seeing Paralympians’ achievements inspired me to get involved in sport – it feels fantastic to have come full circle and represented not only team GB, but also Coventry, on the international stage in wheelchair racing.
“I’m so grateful of the support from Coventry City Council and the city’s businesses which has motivated me to train harder than ever to make the Paralympic squad and put the city, and its fantastic facilities, on the world map.”
The Midland Sports Centre for the Disabled Trust donated £4,000 to Kare’s cause and is the lead sponsor.
Further donations were made by Friargate, £1,800, and the Study Inn Group contributed £828 for the purchase of two sets of front and back tyres.
Midland Sports Centre for the Disabled Trust chairman Alistair McIntosh said Kare is a shining example of the potential young people can reach when given full support by the community.
He added: “The Trust was established with the aim of providing sporting opportunities to disabled participants around the Midlands.
“To hear of a disabled athlete taking her sporting abilities a step further by representing her country at such a young age is a huge achievement and very pleasing.
“Kare is a fantastic role model and we hope her achievements and determination will encourage more young children in the city to take up sport.”
