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Sport Aid and Mears Sponsorship for Olympic Hopefuls
Sport Aid and Mears Sponsorship for Olympic Hopefuls
Olympic glory in their sights
Pictured from Left to Right, Jonathan Smith, Richard White, Edmund Figuerido,
Ron Skipp (Director of Mears) and Beege Zachary (Sport Aid)
The London 2012 Olympics may seem like a long way off to most of us, but three young athletes from Kingston have already got it firmly in their sights.
Edmund Figueiredo (gymnast), Jonathan Smith (Wheelchair Racer) and Richard White (Archer) all have a genuine chance of winning a place in Team GB for the 2012 Olympics. Those chances recently received a massive boost: Edmund, Jonathan and Richard have just been told that - thanks to a deal brokered by Kingston Council - they will each receive at least £6,800 of sponsorship over the next four years.
The funding is being provided by Mears Limited, the company that is responsible for repairs to Council - owned properties, and Sport Aid, a charity which helps the next generation of young athletes to succeed. Mears will sponsor each athlete to the tune of £1,200 - £2,000 per year, and Sport Aid will add a further £500 - £1,000.
Mears has contracts across the country and is sponsoring a young athlete in each of the area it works. Ron Skipp, Director of Mears, explains: "Kingston is unique as it is the only area where we are sponsoring three young people. The reason for this is simple: we just couldn't choose between them!".
Mears has entered into a long term partnership with Kingston Council that will see it take responsibility for repairs to Council property until the year 2013. Ron Skipp continues: "We wanted to give something back to the community and sponsoring these athletes seemed like a great way of doing that. We are very proud to be playing a part in the development of these very talented young people."
The money will make a big difference to the lives of the three athletes. "Archery equipment is very expensive, and I have to buy new kit every year as I am still growing," says Richard White. "On top of that, there are the travel and accommodation costs when I compete in weekend- long events that are held all over the country. It's difficult for me to get a job because I spend every spare minute I have training, so the money from Mears and Sport Aid will make a big difference."
So, when you turn on your television in four years time, if you see Edmund, Jonathan or Richard competing alongside the best in the world, remember where you heard about them first.
Athletes' Profiles
Edmund Figuerido (14)
Edmund joined Tolworth Gym Club when he was six years old. He has sinced enjoyed great success at regional and national level. His coach believes he has the potential to achieve a top ten ranking in his age group.
Jonathan Smith (16)
Jonathan's intense six-day-a-week training schedule has seen him develop into one of the country's most promising wheelchair racers. He has been chosen as a member of the UK Athletics World Class Talent Group and his targets for 2008 include winning the London Mini Marathon.
Richard White
Richard became British Junior Under 16 Champion in July 2007 and hopes to break through to both the England and Great Britain squads by the end of 2008.