Westminster-based charity raises £59k to support female Paralympic hopefuls

A LEADING Asian philanthropist has raised more than £59,000 to support 12 female paralympic hopefuls in their journeys to Tokyo in 2020.

Four major disability sports - para badminton, wheelchair tennis, para powerlifting and wheelchair basketball – will be funded by the money raised by women’s disability charity Path to Success at a fundraising gala dinner recently.

The athletes sponsored by the Westminster-based Path to Success are para powerlifters Olivia Broome and Louise Sugden, wheelchair tennis stars Jordanne Whiley, Lucy Shuker, Lauren Jones, Ruby Bishop, Abbie Breakwell and Louise Hunt, para badminton’s Mary Wilson, Rebecca Bedford and Rachel Choong and wheelchair basketball player Sophie Patterson.

The funds will be used for coaching, tournament entry fees, travel costs, physiotherapy and court hire fees.

Path to Success founder Anita Choudhrie said their aim was to help the 12 women achieve their dreams in Tokyo and beyond.

She said: “It is our mission at Path to Success to support and empower women in disability sport. The money raised at this year’s gala dinner will be crucial for our Path to Tokyo 2020 campaign, which supports talented and inspiring disabled female athletes who remain badly underfunded.

“Our goal is to help these women achieve their dreams in Tokyo and beyond, and to inspire a new generation of female Paralympic stars to embrace their talent and chase their own dreams. We believe we have a duty to make a difference by helping these inspiring women turn inability into ability.”