Nine-time Gold Medalist Supports Disabled Children

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Lee Pearson CBE, of Cheddleton in Staffordshire, will support the Enable Sport campaign, which aims to help youngsters engage in competitive sport by providing donations of specially adapted sports equipment such as wheelchairs, javelins and gymnastic equipment.

The national campaign, devised by charity Caudwell Children, has already helped 50 disabled sporting youngsters reach their potential since its launch last year.

Lee, 34, first came to public attention in 1980 when he was awarded a Children of Courage medal, and has gone on to become the most successful Paralympic equestrian rider, winning his nine golds in three Paralympic Games.

He said: "I wouldn't be where I am today, both in sport and in my life in general, without the support of the people around me who have exacted equipment to meet my individual needs."

Trudi Beswick, of the children's charity, added: "We are immensely proud to be involved in the success of these talented youngsters and hope to support many more in the years ahead.

"Over recent months we have been able to locate a number of disabled children across the UK whose natural talent and ability may have been hampered through the lack of suitable equipment.

"We have now been able to support these children by providing direct donations of specially adapted sports equipment, allowing these gifted youngsters to reach their full potential."

Paralympic footballer Matt Dimbylow, of Northwich in Cheshire, has also been named as an ambassador after making his international footballing debut in the cerebral palsy seven-a-side football team in the Beijing Paralympics.

Matt, who scored the fastest goal of the tournament, said: "The support the charity can offer to the country's young sports people could be the difference between them pursuing their dreams in sport or simply giving up; it has the capability of making dreams come true."

Reference: For further details about Caudwell Children or to apply for a donation from the Enable Sport campaign call the applications hotline on 0845 300 1348 or visit www.caudwellchildren.com