Cash boost for Spalding-based sportsman Sam Newton

Twelve South Holland district councillors have given a cash boost to a Spalding sportsman who's hoping to bag medals at this year's European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships Games in Cagliari.

Sam Newton, 36, a teaching assistant at Spalding Academy, was given a cash donation by twelve councillors - Leader Gary Porter, Gary Taylor, Deputy Leader Nick Worth, Tracey Carter, Susan Wray, Roger Gambba-Jones, David Ashby, George Aley, Angela Newton, Christine Lawton, Angela Harrison and Graham Dark - to help with Sam's accommodation and travel costs.

Sam, who is now in Cagliari, has already won the silver medal in badminton and will be hoping to claim victory for Great Britain in archery later in the week.

Sam is also being supported with free use of the facilities at Spalding Castle Sports Complex and training and advice from 1life, and he was overjoyed at the news of the funding, saying: "I'd previously been apprehensive about my trip. Fundraising had been going ok but I was a significant amount short. I was carrying an amount of guilt because of my mother was paying for my trip.

"The very generous donation from South Holland district councillors means that I can fully commit to the competition and not have any distraction or worries, other than my opponents. 

I'm so grateful and will do my very best for my country and the memory of my donor, without whom I wouldn't be able to do this, or maybe even be alive to write about it."

Councillor Gary Taylor, who organised the cash donations, added: "We're delighted to support Sam. We'll be following his progress in Cagliari closely and wish him all the very best and hope he can bring home some medals."

You can keep an eye on Sam's progress by following him on Twitter @archernoots.