Member Article

Taekwondo talent receiving support from Darlington PR firm

A promising regional athlete with Olympic aspirations is being boosted by the support of a local PR firm.

Sophie Ward, 15, has been a rising star in Taekwondo since she took up the sport six years ago, and is set to receive sponsorship from Darlington-based firm Recognition PR as she tours Europe competing for honours.

Sophie, of Middleton St. George near Darlington, took her first lesson as a nine-year-old, achieving her first belt grading two short months later, and raced to a black belt at just 11. Four years on, and Sophie’s progression has continued apace, achieving numerous medals in tournaments across Europe, including a silver medal at the Belgian Open in 2011 making her the first girl in North East based Chi Taekwondo to medal at an ‘A’ class event.

Off the back of these successes, Sophie now spends school holidays training at the GB Academy in Sports City, Manchester, as part of her place on the GB Taekwondo talent squad.

A by-product of Sophie’s achievement, however, has been the financial strain of consistent national and international travel. Representing Great Britain for the first time at the European Cadet Championships in Tibilisi, Georgia in 2011, Sophie’s family, Hurworth School and various other benefactors had to raise £1500 to fund the trip.

Such expenditure is indicative of the financial implications of international competition, and so to aid the burgeoning career of a potential star, Graham Robb, Senior Partner at Recognition PR stepped in. Mr Robb said: “It is fantastic to be able to sponsor young people in our community, and Sophie Ward is someone with great potential. If we can help her fulfil that potential we will be absolutely delighted.”

Having received the required support to enable Sophie to remain on the Taekwondo circuit and pursue her potential, the Hurworth School student said: “I am so happy to be able to take part and compete in a sport I love and feel so lucky that I have the support around me to enable me to do it.

“I am really grateful to Graham Robb and Recognition PR for helping me get to the events I need to go to, as the international experience in my new junior age category is very important to me this year.”

Sophie’s mother, Louise, said: “Sophie’s ultimate aim is to represent Team GB at the Olympics. The support she is receiving from Graham Robb and Recognition PR will give her the opportunity to continue pursuing her dream, so we are hugely appreciative.”

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This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .