Athlete Tom's so grateful to town

YOUNG athlete Tom Brookes has said a big thank-you to the people of his home town after they raised £3,000 so he could compete at an international event.

The generosity of the people of Biddulph means the 11-year-old can fly out to South Africa on Monday to represent Great Britain at the World Biathle Championships.

Tom, a Year Seven pupil at Woodhouse Middle School, in Biddulph, said: "It's been amazing. I can't thank everyone enough.

"I'm really nervous about the competition because everyone is excited for me and I don't want to let them down.

"I just hope that I do my best and finish in a good position."

Tom booked his place in the national team and on the flight to Cape Town after finishing in sixth place in the European Biathle Championships at Salford Keys, Manchester, in August.

But his parents, Emma and Lee Brookes, who live in Linden Drive, Gillow Heath, soon realised paying for their son to go to the competition would be more difficult.

Mum Emma, aged 32, who is in the final year of her primary education degree at MMU Cheshire, said: "We pay for Tom to go to his training in Weymouth and that is quite expensive, but we just couldn't afford the money for this trip to Cape Town.

"Because the biathle is not an Olympic sport, you don't receive any funding.

"The community of Biddulph has really come together to help with the cost of the trip and we are very grateful.

"We've had donations from individuals and businesses."

Biathle is a run-swim-run competition and Tom, who is a member of Biddulph Swimming Club and the Staffordshire Moorlands Running Club, sees it as a stepping stone to his ultimate goal of taking part in the triathlon at London 2012.

The competition takes place on Saturday, November 1, and will see Tom run 500 metres, swim 50 metres and then run another 500 metres to the finish line.

He will be cheered on in the stands by mum Emma, nine year-old sister Holly and grandmother Chris Colclough.

Yesterday, his classmates raised a further £366 for Tom by holding a non-uniform day. Tom was also given a camera so that he can take photographs of his experience and show them to the school.

Headteacher Brian Mirza said: "Win or lose, the school is very proud of him."

Biddulph Town Mayor Wayne Rogers said: "If he wins, I think we'll have to sort out some kind of open-top bus parade through the town."