Chorley Paralympic hopeful gets funding boost from college (From Chorley Citizen)

Chorley Paralympic hopeful gets funding boost from college

1:21pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

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Chorley sprinter Graeme Ballard is getting a helping hand from a local college as he bids to compete in the 2012 London Paralympics.

Graeme, 30, is a successful cerebral palsy athlete who has a string of medals to his name.

He won a bronze medal in the men’s 200m at the Athens Paralympics, one gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the European Games and a silver medal in the World Games.

On Monday, Graeme is travelled to Dubai to compete in the Al Ain 4th International Athletics Meeting.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to going to Dubai and hoping to hit my target time.”

He needs to hit a target time of 12.4 seconds in the 100m and 25.5 seconds in the 200m in three competitions this year to enable him to compete in the 2012 Paralympics.

Unfortunately, Graeme’s funding, worth £1,500 a month, has been taken away following a back injury which impeded his performance in Beijing.

This has been a massive blow to his London Paralympics dream as he incurs expenses for travel, accommodation and a carer to accompany him to competitions.

Runshaw College, where Graeme is studying English and Maths, has stepped in to help him raise much needed funds.

The Euxton Lane campus will be conducting several fundraising activities to help Graeme including a raffle, auction, lucky dip, Weekly Weigh In Club and manicures.

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