Special Olympics Leicester today announced that Tim Stimpson, former England international and Leicester Tigers goalkicker will lead a Special Olympics team of runners in the 2008 Leicester Marathon on Sunday 19th October. A total of 30 runners will be pounding the streets of Leicester on Sunday in aid of the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics Appeal.

 

Seven teams made up of representatives from the Special Olympics Games Organising Committee, Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester City Council and local businesses will be participating in the event through a relay around the city, where each runner will complete a quarter of the course. Team leader, Tim Stimpson will be running one of the legs of the relay and will also be joined by former Leicester Tigers prop, Derek Jelley and Olympic silver medallist Bryan Steel.

 

Steve Humphries, Special Olympics Leicester Games Director, said: "I'm delighted to see so many runners signing up to run the marathon in aid of the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics Appeal. It's important that we drive awareness of Special Olympics through the major events like the marathon as we need to ensure that our local athletes get the best possible start and profile in their preparation for the National Games next year."

 

Tim Stimpson, Special Olympics Leicester ambassador, said: "I'm delighted to be able to support team Special Olympics on Sunday. I'm looking forward to joining the team and taking my place in the Special Olympics relay as a way of helping to raise funds for local learning disabled athletes. I'm hoping that the people of Leicester will come out and support us on the day."

 

All runners are running in aid of the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics Appeal, which is supporting learning disabled athletes across the county as they prepare to participate in the 2009 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Leicester next year. Supported by voluntary, public and private organisations and sporting clubs including Leicester City Council, Leicester City FC, Leicestershire CCC, Leicester Tigers RFC, Leicester Ladies Hockey Club and Riders Basketball Club, the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games will act as a platform for the city's regeneration which includes the Curve theatre, Highcross shopping centre and science park.