GB Paralympics star Antony Cotterill backs Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards

Antony Cotterill, who will represent Great Britain at the Paralympics at Rio, is supporting the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards.

Antony Cotterill, who trains at Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie Campus, is supporting the search for nominees in this year’s awards.

The awards, which are backed by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, recognises deserving youngsters who have shown courage in a number of ways.

Categories include young carer, fundraiser, outstanding bravery, sporting achievement and special recognition.

Antony Cotterill in training at Leeds Beckett University Tennis Centre. Picture Tony Johnson.

Antony said: “I think young people should get recognition for what they do and I thought it would be great to be involved.”

On Friday he will join Leeds Children’s Mayor Hannah Begum for the final Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards nomination roadshow.

They will be at Manning Stainton in The Green, Guiseley, at 11am to encourage more local people to nominate young people who deserve to have their efforts recognised.

Then on Monday, Antony flies out to Brazil to represent Britain in wheelchair tennis at the Rio games.

“We feeling really good – and excited,” he said. “Having seen how well we’re doing in the Olympics, it makes it all real.”

Although Rio 2016 will be his first Paralympic Games, Antony has won gold, silver and bronze medals as part of Great Britain teams at a number of World Team Cups.

Nominations for the awards must be made before midnight on Friday.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at New Dock Hall in Leeds on October 14, with funds raised by the event going to the St. James’s Place Foundation.

Click here for more details on making a nomination.