Since the National Lottery Funded Programme for Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls was launched back in 1996, I have been fortunate to be supported by the Programme ever since. Of course in order to be eligible to receive funding there are strict performance targets that have to be met every year and in my case I have been in the top 2 in the world in at least one event, every year in order to have my membership of the programme continued.

To celebrate this National Lottery Thank You Day, I thought I would take you through some photographic highlights of my career to which the National Lottery and it's players have made an enormous contribution. Not all of these are sporting highlights as you will see below. The far reaching impact of the Lottery money has meant the benefits have been felt by good causes and through sporting facilities around the UK. Sorry there hasn't been room to mention everything!

1996: 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze at the Atlanta Paralympic Games in Swimming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1999: BSc (hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree. The funding programme started as I was heading to University and it was an unbelievable privilege to be able to fund myself through University and not have to worry about also having a part time job to pay for my sporting costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000: 2 Silver medals in the swimming pool at the Sydney Paralympic Games. After struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome in 1998 following a bout of overtraining, coming back to win any medals in Sydney was a testament to the support I received.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002: Manchester Commonwealth Games. So many of the facilities at the Commonwealth Games were also contributed to through Lottery funding and for me in particular being able to train at the amazing Manchester Aquatic Centre for the latter part of my swimming career was fantastic. [Picture: as part of the Queen's Baton Relay, with my parents]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004: 2 Silver medals and 1 bronze medal in the swimming at the Athens Paralympic Games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005: Officially changed sports from swimming to cycling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006: I am became a patron for the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, an amazing children’s charity in Cheshire which provides holidays and respite care to vulnerable and terminally ill children. The charity had received Lottery funding to assist with the building of their sports hall and also to allow them to run a 3 year physical activity programme. This place has touched my heart and was an incredible example of how Lottery money helps a range of projects.

 

http://www.childrensadventurefarm.org/default.asp

 

2006: First World title in Cycling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007: Second World title in Cycling, won whilst nursing a broken collar bone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008: First Paralympic Games as a cyclist, winning 2 gold medals in Beijing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009: 4 World titles, 2 on the track and 2 on the road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010: 4 World titles, 2 on the track and 2 on the road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011: 4 World titles, 2 on the track and 2 on the road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012: Watch this space and a huge “thank you” to everyone who continues to play the National Lottery, your support is very much appreciated.