Paralympic Champion sprinter Jonnie Peacock and para-triathlon world champion Lauren Steadman have urged the British public to help a new campaign which has been launched by the British Paralympic Association.
Supercharge Paralympics GB is a campaign launched today (January 7) by the British Paralympic Association (BPA), and is the first time that the BPA has led a major public facing campaign to generate support and raise funds for Paralympics GB.
The Supercharge ParalympicsGB campaign will drive to raise money to help take ParalympicsGB to the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer and beyond.
Alongside funding from the National Lottery, the funds raised will help best prepare Team GB in the crucial final days before Rio and lay the ground for future success.
Paralympic sprinter and London 2012 gold medallist Jonnie Peacock, from Cambridge, is one the Paralympic athletes supporting the campaign.
He said: “When I competed at London 2012 the level of support from the British public was unprecedented and meant a lot to us as athletes. This year the Paralympic Games takes place in Rio and I’d love to see the nation really get behind ParalympicsGB, just as they did at London 2012. People can Supercharge the Paralympics GB team this year by donating, fundraising and sending messages of support which will all make a difference to the team’s performance in Rio.”
Reigning world and European para-triathlon champion and Paralympic swimmer Lauren Steadman, from Peterborough, is another athlete supporting the campaign.
She said: “As an athlete, I know just how important it is to get your preparations right before a major competition, and this is never more important than at a Paralympic Games. With the nation’s support, we can Supercharge the Paralympics GB team this year and ensure that we send the best possible team of British athletes to compete in Rio.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said of the launch: “We want to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to win medals and make the nation proud in Rio and beyond. That means getting the public and our partners involved to help to Supercharge the team to make the Paralympics GB team as successful and inspiring to others as possible.
“We have incredible support already from the National Lottery and UK Sport, but the crucial final part of the journey to Rio requires as much funding as possible to ensure the team are ready for success. That is why we are launching this campaign and asking the public for its support. How far all our athletes go depends on you!”
The Supercharge ParalympicsGB campaign launch includes the release of a new campaign film and some iconic imagery of ParalympicsGB stars as well as a Text to Donate facility – TEXT “SUPER” to 70700 - and a wide range of fundraising tools and equipment.
For more information, please visit www.paralympics.org.uk/supercharge.
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