Funding cuts haunt Warwick skiing star

Buy photos » Warwick's Paralympic skiing star Anna Turney. (s)

PARALYMPIC skiing star Anna Turney continues to scoop medals across the globe despite funding cuts threatening to force her off the competitive slopes.

Inspirational Anna was left paralysed after breaking her back in a snowboarding accident in Japan in 2006, but the ultra-competitive Chase Meadow resident refused to be beaten, battling back to world class level and joining the British Disabled Ski Team.

This winter she finished fourth overall in Europe, winning a silver and six bronze Europa Cup medals and a further silver and two bronze medals in International Paralympic Committee races, qualifying her for World Cups which are the highest level of competition.

But she was unable to compete in them due to lack of financial backing..

All of her hopes are geared toward the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, but government funding cuts have also thrown her participation in that into doubt, as she now has to find £20,000 a season in order to train, travel and compete.

She said: “It has been my most successful season yet, and qualifying for World Cups was the highlight of my season, so I was disappointed that I didn’t have the money to race in them.

“It would be wonderful if I can afford to race next year, with the ultimate goal to win a medal in the 2014 Paralympics.”

Anna is back at work now, doing motivational speaking and other work with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

She has also been supported by Warwick businesses such as Diva Hair and the Rose and Crown pub, which have held several fund-raising events.

To find out more about Anna, and ways to support her financially, visit www.annaturney.com.

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