Nationwide Building Society is very proud to support Disability Sport Events (DSE) and all the athletes who compete at these events throughout the UK. We hope our sponsorship will enable more disabled athletes to take part in these events and that they continue to break records, both personally and internationally.
Nationwide's support of DSE began in 2000, with a £1 million sponsorship of athletics and swimming events being struck in 2005 for a further 7 years - which will take the partnership through to the 2012 Paralympics in London.
DSE organises National Championships for disabled people in a variety of sports. These events provide pathways to international success, such as the Paralympics. Working with Nationwide, DSE aims to increase participation and talent identification. Fundraising is an essential part of DSE's work and all funds assist disabled sports people in their ladder to success.
For your opportunity to donate please follow the link below.
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Ellie Simmonds MBE
- Ellie began her disability swimming competition at the DSE championships. Since then she has shot to fame. Ellie became the country's golden girl last year when she won two golds in Beijing - her first Paralympic Games.
- She is originally from Walsall but now studies and lives in Swansea, coached by Billy Pye
- She swims in the S6, SB6 and SM6 class
- She won golds in the 100m and 400m Freestyle, though her favourite event is the latter
- She holds the world record in the 400m Freestyle which she also broke in Beijing
- She is the youngest ever recipient of an MBE
View the Athletes' Gallery here
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Disability Sport Events (DSE) is holding the National Junior Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. Nationwide Building Society are supporting the event on 6 and 7 March, at which over 200 swimmers will compete. The event is an opportunity for young British swimming talent to compete, and is a springboard towards international success.
The juniors will also have the chance to watch some of our top Paralympic swimmers in action during the weekend as some will be taking part in an altitude project. This includes Sascha Kindred, Ellie Simmonds and Sam Hynd.
Lizzie Simpkin(S9), who is competing at the junior event, was a debutant in the Beijing Paralympics and last year enjoyed a very successful year in the pool. Simpkin ended 2009 as part of the record breaking relay team at the IPC World Short Course Swimming Championships. The 15 year old from Southport swam the third leg in the women’s 4x100m medley relay in Rio de Janeiro and had built a great lead when she handed over to gold medallist Ellie Simmonds. Great Britain touched in a new world record time of 4min56.23sec.
Simpkin said ahead of her competition in Sheffield: “Training is getting really tough at the moment, but my coach has given me a target to aim for at the juniors. I’m hoping to better my times from the Worlds last year in Rio. I love competing at the juniors as I always meet someone new and make new friends”.
Maxine Taylor, Nationwide’s Divisional Director for Corporate Affairs, said: “Nationwide Building Society is very proud to support DSE and all the athletes who compete at these events throughout the UK. We hope our sponsorship will enable more disabled athletes to take part in these events and that they continue to break records, both personally and internationally.”
Other partners assisting the championships are British Swimming, Water Direct, Ponds Forge and the Sheffield City Council's Major Sports Events Unit.
Further information about DSE and the winners from this event will be available via www.disabilitysport.org.uk
The event is free for spectators, so it is a great chance to see the country’s best juniors in action. Disability Sport Events and the swimmers would welcome any support during the weekend.
Spectators are welcome to attend the event and watch the Paralympians of the future compete.