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.
Disability Sport Events (DSE) is holding the British International Disability Swimming Championship at Ponds Forge in Sheffield from 15th-17th May. Nationwide Building Society and British Swimming are supporting the event with over 200 from around the world competing. Last year the same event was the final qualifier for the Beijing Paralympics. This year, we are welcoming back all the British Paralympic medallists.
Top Brits in action during the event are eleven times gold medallist David Roberts CBE, double gold medallist and youngest ever MBE- Eleanor Simmonds, multi-gold winning Sascha Kindred OBE and rising star- gold medallist Heather Frederikson. The event uses a long course pool (50m) - the same as the Paralympics, so World and European records are likely to be broken.
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.”
Gordon Neale, Director of Events for DSE, said: “Through the support of Nationwide and our many volunteers, we are able to host a variety of events throughout the year for people with all abilities, whether they are just starting to learn a sport or going for gold at the Paralympics. New athletes and swimmers are always welcome at our regional events as these are the perfect environment for new participants to learn and enjoy their chosen sport. All information is available via the DSE website for both participants and volunteers, who are always needed and welcomed at our events. Without the dedication of volunteers our events just wouldn’t happen.”
Other partners assisting the championships are British Swimming, Water Direct, Ponds Forge and the Sheffield City Council's Major Sports Events Unit.
The event is free for spectators and will run in heats and multi-disability finals. Further information about DSE and the winners from this event will be available on DSE’s website www.disabilitysport.org.uk
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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