TEN-PIN bowling fanatic Graeme Cunningham is a step closer to realising his Olympic dream -- thanks to the generosity of a local company.

Graeme, 34, was presented with a new pair of bowling shoes by Systemnet, of Thornton Road, Bradford, as he prepares to represent Great Britain at the Special Olympics in Dublin later this year.

Graeme, who has cerebral palsy, will use the shoes when he represents the Great Britain ten pin bowling squad at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin in June.

Systemnet is an internet company which set up a website for Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities. The company's team won the Ken Thorne Memorial Cup at AMF Bowl in Keighley.

Members of BSRAPD also took part in the charity event. which raised about £440 for the Lord Mayor's charity, Candlelighters.

BSRAPD Chairman Pauline Montgomery said: "We run the event most years as a way of saying thankyou to the Lord Mayor for supporting Bradford Sports at their many events and also for supporting our Special Olympians and help with other fund raising.

"This is the biggest amount we have raised and we would like to thank everyone who took part."

Coun Barry Thorne said: "The money my father left went to organising this competition and it is very important to our family that we recognise my dad's support over the year's for people with disabilities."

n Pictured (above) are: Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Richard and Elizabeth Wightman, with Ashley Dale and Steven Thorn and Cougar players Stuart Calvert and Karl Smith.