Baldwin given the support she needs to make future British teams

By Nick Atkin, Sportsbeat

AFTER a near eight-year struggle with life-threatening illnesses shooter Lesley Baldwin has been hand-picked as a future British Paralympian after being chosen on the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes initiative.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Lesley Baldwin has been named as a Bank of Scotland Local Hero for 2012

The 33-year-old, a member of Glenrothes Target Shooting Club, will receive a cash injection of £1,000 towards training and competing and is one of only 82 athletes selected onto the scheme from across Scotland.

Baldwin attended the 2012 launch at Glasgow's Scotstoun Leisure Centre, where she met up with former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards and World Championship bronze medallist Lee McConnell.

For Baldwin the selection meant more than most having endured a nightmare last few years of illness which began with a back injury while serving in the British Army in Germany.

After suffering complications and contracting dystonia Baldwin has since had her left leg amputated at the knee and undergone a life-threatening deep brain stimulation operation in 2009.

In recovering from that operation Baldwin was introduced to shooting and has since been fast-tracked into the British Paralympic set-up as she eyes a spot at the Rio Games in 2016.

"For me personally 2016 is my goal and it is great to be picked to receive the funding after what has been a very hard few years," said Baldwin.

"I am absolutely loving the shooting having been introduced to it when I was recovering at Headley Court in 2010.

"The funding will be a great help because I spend most of my life on the M6 now travelling down to training in Stoke Mandeville where I spend about three weeks every month.

"Also with shooting the equipment is obviously very expensive and so it will help out there too."   

In partnership with SportsAid, the Bank of Scotland, as part of Lloyds Banking Group, initiative is designed to ensure more talent reaches the top of their sport.

In total 346 talented athletes are part of the programme with 264 Lloyds TSB Local Heroes in England and Wales also receiving funding towards training and competing.

And McConnell, who is gunning for a 400m berth at the London 2012 Olympics this summer, believes Baldwin and co are the future of Scottish sport.

"These guys coming up are the future talent across various sports and it's great that investment is being put in not just financially but in terms of spending time with them and getting them ready for a career in sport," said McConnell.

"It's something I'd have loved to have had when I was coming up through the sport and it's great for them to have that recognition at such a young age."

Bank of Scotland Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 82 of Scotland's most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Since 2008, the programme has supported 1,000 athletes. Follow future stars at facebook.com/bankofscotlandlocalheroes

©Sportsbeat 2012