Wheelchair athlete makes Olympic bid

Kent-based athlete Steve Brown, 27, shares the dream of representing the Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics with athletes up and down the nation. But unlike most others, Steve's journey is one of inspiration following a life-changing accident just three years ago. In support of Steve’s Olympic dream, a Birmingham-based airport car parking company – Airparks - is to provide him with free use of its 'Meet and Greet' service at London airports, worth approximately £2,000.

“It’s great that Airparks have made such an offer,” says Steve. “Without the worry and additional costs associated with my frequent travelling, I can concentrate on achieving my ambition to compete at the Olympic Games.”

The company’s service enables travellers to drive direct to the terminal where a chauffeur driver will securely park their car. Designed to eliminate the oft-troublesome process of parking and travelling to the terminal, for Steve in particular this service will significantly ease his travel experience.

Having broken his neck and severing his spinal cord in an accident in Germany in 2005, Steve lost the use of all but his upper body. He was treated at the world-famous Stoke Mandeville spinal unit, and it was there that he developed a passion for wheelchair rugby.

Quickly establishing himself on the London Wheelchair Rugby team, where he has enjoyed national and international success, Steve set himself the ambition to compete in the national side at the London Olympic Games in four years' time.

However, with annual training costs exceeding £12,000, the fundraising requirements are having a detrimental affect on his six-day-a-week training regime.

In addition to the expenses associated with Steve's training schedule, the high-impact nature of wheelchair rugby presents further costs for repairs to his specially built chair. Another major cost is travel, for training and competitions, many of which are abroad. As such, Airparks are pleased to offer its assistance in reducing Steve’s expenses.

Steve is set to feature in BBC1's 'Olympic Dreams' on Tuesday July 29, a show following a series of Olympic hopefuls looking to make the Great Britain squad for Beijing this August.