As you may have read here previously, Simon Heaps represents Great Britain at wheelchair table tennis Class 5. He is 66 years of age and as result of Type 1 Diabetes, which he has had since 13 year old, he originally lost his right leg in May 2019 but recently lost his left leg on 13th January of this year.
Simon is determined for his misfortune to not stop his table tennis, although he had had to cancel playing for Great Britain in Costa Rica in December because of the ongoing complications he had with his condition.
After 3 weeks away from the table tennis table Simon resumed training and practise in February and aims to return to competitive table tennis playing for his German Bundesliga Club in Hamburg in the weekend of the 19th March. He will then be back for a few days before travelling to Cairo to represent Great Britain in the Egypt Para Open from 29th March to 2nd April 2022.
Another Bundesliga match at end of April followed by French and Jordan Para Opens in May for Great Britain.
Simon said;
"Losing another leg has not dampened my enthusiasm or desire and at 66 I am as keen as ever."
Simon still an outside chance of making the Commonwealth Games team but he thinks that missing the South American tournament may have cost his place on the team.
When Simon represents the country he has to totally self fund and can only do this by his own fundraising efforts, which includes small sponsorships, charitable grants and donations. Playing International Para table tennis is not cheap as there are tournaments all around the world.
Simon's current World ranking is 46 after playing in only 3 International events and also the Great Britain No 3. "I have a lot of International experience, albeit as an able bodied athlete, as I played for England on many occasions as a Junior and Senior with the highlight of my career being European Cadet champion in 1970 back in the day! I even have to purchase my own Great Britain kit and this is where this is leading. I currently have no Corporate Sponsor and need your help to raise £5,000 please."
British Para Table Tennis has just launched their new playing and training kit as from 1st March which has to be used at all times when representing Great Britain in sanctioned International events.
For any local businesses that want to support Simon he has an exciting sponsorship opportunity that will only cost £100.
Simon allowed to display advertising on my shirts, shorts and tracksuit when representing Great Britain.
He is looking for at least 50 businesses to support him and give a minimum of £100 (or more in multiples of £100) to have the following sponsorship opportunities and be drawn out of a hat for 3 very special, tax deductible, ways to market your company. Each £100 gets a chance (ie: £500 gets you 5 chances in the draw etc.)
- 1st drawn - Full sponsorship on playing shirts, tracksuit and training shirts
- 2nd drawn – Short sponsorship, tracksuit, and training shirts
- 3rd drawn – Training shirt sponsorship
Draw will be live on Facebook and done at the end of March.
So if you believe in Para Sport and Milford on Sea residents then please contact him for further details:
Simon Heaps
