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Cumbrian athlete sets sights on Rio Paralympics

Since breaking his back in a motorcross accident, Simon Lawson has become one of the UK's top wheelchair racers.

He's now hoping to make the Team GB squad for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

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Charity hopes for 'magical' moment for Cumbrian athlete

Geoff Brown's charity is supporting Simon Lawson. Credit: ITV Border

A local charity that is helping to fund a Cumbrian athlete's quest to be chosen for the Paralympic Games, is appealing for support to get him there.

The Geoff Brown Charitable Trust contacts businesses and individuals, and directs donations straight to local causes.

They've already passed the first £500 donation to Simon Lawson, a wheelchair racer from Maryport, and are hoping for more businesses to come forwards as sponsors.

Lawson, who broke his back in a motorcross accident, says being selected for the Rio Games is his "ultimate goal".

He won't get official funding until he's chosen, but needs to compete in events around the world to get the scores, and profile, he needs for selection.

It's the highest level of racing that you can compete in, so it's pretty much the ultimate goal, to get to the Olympics, or Paralympics, so that's the big goal, and I think it would mean everything really."

– Simon Lawson, athlete

It would just be magical, you know? And imagine the scenario where he hits Rio, and we've got a big television screen, all the people who've backed him, and he's got to that level. It would just be amazing."

– Geoff Brown

The money will go towards transport costs, and to pay for equipment like tyres, which need to be replaced after every race.

Lawson came tenth in the London Marathon earlier this year - he was the second fastest British competitor, behind 2012 Paralympic Champion David Weir.

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Cumbrian athlete sets sights on Rio Paralympics

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