Dale aims for London honour (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Dale aims for London honour

3:48pm Wednesday 11th March 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

PARALYMPICS: uUnsworth 18-year-old Dale Speight has taken up the Olympic-sized challenge of a lifetime thanks to a £1,000 grant for a bespoke basketball wheelchair.

The cash is from the North West Lord’s Taverners, and will help the Manchester Mavericks and North West Under-19s player towards his dream of being chosen for the Team GB basketball squad in the 2012 Paralympics Games in London.

The Holy Cross College student has been a member of North West U19s basketball squad for the past four years and a Bury Blue Devils player for the past two years.

Since the disbanding of the Bury team, Speight moved to play for the Manchester Mavericks in September last year to further his basketball potential and it was there that the Manchester team’s disability sports co-ordinator suggested that Speight bid for a Lord’s Taverner’s grant to help him buy a bespoke basketball wheelchair.

He said: “I am determined to be part of Team GB in 2012. “I know that I have a lot of hours training and basketball practice to put in, which, thanks to the Lord’s Taverners wheelchair grant, has now been made much easier. Not only has the chair helped my performance, but has also reinforced my focus and commitment to be a part of the Paralympic squad.”

Mark Blakemore, North West chairman of the Lord’s Taverners and managing partner at the Manchester office of accountants Baker Tilly, said: “Dale is an excellent example of a young man who has shown great positivity, commitment and determination to overcome his disability and realise his potential through sport, and the Lord’s Taverners were only too thrilled to support him with a grant. I look forward to seeing him win his gold medal in 2012.”

• Print
• Email
• Share