Para-Rider Receives “Game-Changing” Donation
GB Para-dressage rider, Sophie Christiansen, has received a “game-changing” donation, in her campaign to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Christiansen received a huge £15,000 from the Tim Lewis Trust, toward her crowdfunding campaign. The proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign, which Christiansen set up earlier this year will go to supporting the running costs of her horses.
The Tim Lewis Trust finds “innovative projects that link to sport and technology” to support. The charity, founded by Mark Taylor, David Anderson, Tony Byrne and Nick Bunting, was set up in memory of Tim Lewis, who was “incredibly enthusiastic about sport” and technology’s role in transforming organisations.
Christiansen, the first ever equestrian the trust have supported, ecstatically announced on social media;
“Wow! Thank you so much to The Tim Lewis Trust for their game-changing donation! Without them I couldn’t even have contemplated searching for a teammate and back-up for Harry. They have massively taken the financial pressure off so I can go back to focusing on being the best athlete I can be and building my new team.”
“We are the perfect match as the Trust funds sporting projects and innovative technology.”
Christiansen is continuing her crowdfunding, as her costs are set to “double”. Christiansen will need to campaign “two horses of Paralympic caliber”, which lottery funding cannot cover, in order to have a chance of competing at the world stage in Tokyo.
Later this month, Christiansen is set to launch her “Gold Club”, another incentive which will not only aid her funds for Tokyo 2020, but allow fans to keep up-to-date with Sophie. The £25 annual membership will also allow visits “behind-the-scenes”, in the run-up to eagerly anticipated events, and discounts from Sophie’s sponsors such as BMW and Equilibrium Products.
Primary image: Rio de Janeiro – Sophie Christiansen Paralympics Rio 2016 (Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil)
