A CAMPAIGN to help five athletes from the district travel to next year’s Special Olympics has been started.

The five athletes are hoping to travel as part of the Great Britain team to the Special Olympics World Games, but need to raise around £3,500 each to fund the trip.

The Games, which are for people with learning disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome, will take place in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in March next year, with more than 7,000 athletes, including a 129-strong team from the UK, expected to be taking part.

Neil Hartley and Mark Rhodes, both from Eccleshill, have been picked alongside Ella Curtis, from Baildon.

Mr Hartley has been picked as a member of Great Britain’s basketball squad, Mr Rhodes is competing in golf and Ella Curtis is a member of the cycling team.

Keighley’s James Reed-Griffiths and T-Jay Wilson are both hoping to be able to go for gold in equestrian, and 45-year-old Bradford-based cycling coach Tim Curtis will also travel with the squad.

Dean Carroll, manager of Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure, said: “We are both delighted and proud to have five athletes and one coach from the Bradford district picked for Team Great Britain.

“It goes to show that hard work, dedication and commitment pays off.

“We will be working hard over the next 12 months to raise the £16,000 needed to take the five athletes and coach to the games.”

A fundraising appeal has been started to help raise funds for the athletes’ trip, which was officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Abid Hussain, in a ceremony at Shipley Town Hall on Friday.

Bradford’s athletes have also spoken about their delight at being selected for Great Britain’s team.

Mr Hartley, 20, said: “I am very proud to play basketball for Great Britain.”

Ella, who celebrated her 15th birthday yesterday, said: “I hope I can ride my cycle to gold for my country.”

Mr Rhodes, 33, said: “I hope to get a hole in one and make Bradford proud.”

Teenage horseriders James, 17, and T-Jay, 13, said they were looking forward to riding in the equestrian games and hoped their friends in Keighley would be proud of them.

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The athletes will follow in the footsteps of other successful athletes from Bradford who have taken part in the Games, including Buttershaw’s Helen Burton, East Morton’s James Crossley, and Howarth’s Chris Woodhead, who all picked up medals in powerlifting at the 2015 Games in Los Angeles.

l Anyone who would like to sponsor the athletes or make a donation is being asked to contact Barry Thorne, funding officer at Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure, by emailing bsr1@btconnect.com, or calling 07423 431629.