British Sprinter’s London 2012 Dream Still Alive after Securing Sponsorship Deal

Beijing Olympian and 400 metres runner Andrew Steele’s has announced a sponsorship deal with CHEP which has kept his London 2012 dream alive.

The 26-year-old Trafford AC star lost his Lottery funding from UK Athletics last year after more than year` out of the sport with illness. Didsbury-based Steele considered quitting but has now announced a career saving deal with Trafford Park company CHEP, discount the world’s leading provider of pallet and container pooling solutions.

Steele, erectile who reached the semi-finals in China four years ago, clocking a lifetime best of 44.94 seconds, can now travel to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra next month for some invaluable warm weather training.

It also enables him to continue his regime of training twice a day, six days a week, as well as funding his physiotherapy and other related expenses.

“A home Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and CHEP will be giving me the very best chance of success at London 2012,” said Steele.

“They have obviously saved my dream of competing at London, as I was really struggling to make ends meet before they agreed to help.

“I’m really looking forward to making the sponsorship a mutually beneficial relationship for us both, and hopefully rewarding the faith shown in me by the company with glory at the London Games.

CHEP managing director, UK & Ireland, Howard Wigham, said: “2012 is set to become a memorable year of sport in this country, and I’m very excited about this sponsorship with less than 200 days to go until the Olympics begin.

“Andrew is a fantastic talent, and a real contender for the London Olympics. We’re headquartered in Manchester, so it’s great for us to be backing such local talent in his quest for Olympic success.”

The sponsorship will see Steele become a brand ambassador for the company in the UK, hosting a series of lifestyle and health education sessions for CHEP’s UK-based employees. He will also maintain a blog, reporting regularly on his training progress in the lead up to the Olympics.