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British Paralympics Association - known as ParalympicsGB. The charity is responsible for selecting, preparing, funding and managing ’s teams at the Paralympics Games.

TOP TEN REASONS TO FUNDRAISE FOR ParalympicsGB

MEDALS

ParalympicsGB had their most successful ever Games in , bringing home 102 medals - 42 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze. If the team for is to better this performance and achieve the ParalympicsGB performance ambition of winning more medals across more sports, they need your help to get them to the podium.

INSPIRATION

It goes without saying that Paralympic athletes are inspirational figures. British Paralympians have inspired the nation, proving that any person with a disability can achieve their dreams. Your help will allow a bigger team to be taken to compete in , meaning more athletes to inspire more people with a disability to reach for their dreams.

LASTING CHANGE

is one of the most forward-thinking nations in regards to inclusion and equality, but there is still some way to go. 2012 provides us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the way that people with a disability are perceived by the general public. This will only be achieved through successful performances by the British team, and they need the best possible preparations behind them.

THE HOME GAMES

Most people will only see a home Games once in their lifetime, and for the athletes competing in 2012 this opportunity presents them with one chance to achieve their lifetime’s best performance in front of the home crowds. Help us make sure the home Games is our the best Games yet by supporting the British team.

SUPPORT FUTURE TALENT

In a bid to continue as one of the leading nations in Paralympic sport, ParalympicsGB works hard to support the identification of future talent and nurture that talent through to elite level. Since receiving a funding cut after the Beijing Games, ParalympicsGB have relied on support from partners and fundraisers to continue this vital talent search and identify the stars of tomorrow.

ACCESS TO WORLD CLASS SUPPORT

Olympic athletes receive access to World Class support and facilities that enable them to be best prepared for competition. Paralympic athletes train just as hard as their Olympic counterparts and are truly elite performers, but they need your support to allow them access to the same support and facilities in order to ensure they are best prepared to compete on the global stage.

RAISE AWARENESS

The Beijing Games saw increased interest in Paralympic sports, with greater media coverage received than ever before. In 2012, the eyes of the world will be on . We need to make the most of this incredible opportunity and deliver our best ever performance, raising awareness of ParalympicsGB and disability sport in general and ensuring that a legacy of improved infrastructure and governance of disability sports is secured.

INCREASE PARTICIPATION

ParalympicsGB are the charity that takes the British team to compete at the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games. But we recognise that in order to select the best team of athletes, it’s crucial that grass root sport is supported and people with a disability are given the opportunity to participate in sport at all levels. By helping us prepare the best team of athletes possible for the Games, you will be helping to inspire people with a disability to take up sport and reap the benefits of an active life, increasing the number of athletes developing to elite level.

SUPPORT ATHLETES WITH A DISABILITY

The Paralympic Games is the second biggest global sporting event and the pinnacle of an athlete’s career. Athletes compete under the disability groups of spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, amputee, visually impaired, les autres and intellectual disabilities. Some of these athletes will have been born with their disability (congenital) and some will have acquired their disability at some point in their life. By fundraising for ParalympicsGB you can show your support for athletes with a disability and give them the recognition they deserve for their incredible sporting achievements.

BE PART OF ONE OF ’S MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER TEAMS

The British Paralympic team have come second on the medal table at every Paralympic Summer Games since Sydney 2000, and in the history of the Summer Games have never dropped out of the top five. By fundraising for ParalympicsGB, you will be part of one of ’s most successful teams of all time.

 

WHERE DOES MY MONEY GO?

There’s often only a small difference between gold and silver, in double gold medallist Dave Weir’s case only 0.15 seconds. It’s the small things that ParalympicsGB do that can make a big difference to the performance of the team. Here are some examples of how your fundraising can make a real difference.

£100 will pay for one athlete to go through one day of a preparation camp for 2012, taking them one step closer to achieving their dream of representing GB in

£650 will pay for one athlete to be taken to compete at one day of the Games

£1000 will pay for a full medical team for one day at the Games - that’s a doctor, a nurse, a physio and a psychologist - enabling the wide-ranging medical requirements of the team to be catered for

£2000 would pay for an additional athlete support staff member to be accredited at the Games, meaning the athletes can be better supported and be in optimum condition to compete

£4000 provides a place for an athlete on a 6 month talent transition programme which will support getting them on to a sport pathway programme and may put them in the frame for 2012 selection