31/07/2018 - Maddie accelerates Tokyo dreams thanks to sponsorship deal
Lucketts supports a rising star in UK wheelchair basketball.
Coach firm Lucketts stepped in to support a rising star in UK wheelchair basketball.
Portsmouth’s Maddie Martin (14), has been tipped as a future star of the sport and has her sights set on a place in the Tokyo Games 2020. The King Richard School pupil is already part of Team GB and training alongside some of the best in the sport.
But, with her training and competing regularly taking her all over the UK, she was in real need of financial support to help her achieve her dream. Her dad Rob Martin launched an appeal for businesses to support Maddie and Lucketts, a strong advocate of youth sport, has come to the rescue.
The Fareham-based firm has pledged to help Maddie with her travel costs and hotels for the next year, meaning she can get to training sessions and matches without worrying about money.
Dad Rob Martin said: “It really does seem quite surreal and mind blowing to us that, at the tender age of 14, Maddie is classed by the British Olympic Committee, Team GB and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation as an Elite Sportswoman.
“Her training is really ramping up and inevitably with that comes quite substantial cost. There’s not a great deal of financial support for young Paralympians so we’ve had to take matters into our own hands with an appeal.
“We are so grateful to Lucketts for answering our call for support. It’s an absolute honour and privilege for Maddie to be supported in her ‘dream’ by such a major, well renowned, well respected family run business.”
David Luckett, chairman of Lucketts, added: “It’s exciting that Maddie has reached such a high standard in the sport at such an early age, and to be involved in the GB squad is a real achievement; one to be very proud of. My company is very pleased to help Maddie with her traveling expenses and in doing so hope she achieves her goal. It has always been my Company’s policy to assist and contribute in the community.
“It’s our pleasure to support Maddie on the road to Tokyo and we wish her all the best for the future.”
Maddie, who has Spina Bifida, was inspired to get into wheelchair basketball after watching the London 2012 Games.
She is due to start competing at national league level with Tornados, based in Littlehampton, and also with Vixens and Red Dust Warriors in the national women’s league imminently.
She has been selected for the School Games Team and South East Regional Team.
Cameron Davies, the independent opticians with branches in Southsea and Portchester, is also kindly sponsoring Maddie with sports glasses and eye care.
To find out more about wheelchair basketball visit www.gbwba.org.uk and to donate towards Maddie’s Olympic dream visit www.gofundme.com/maddies-gb-paralympic-dream