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My name is Matthew “Panda” Smyth, and I would like to open forum up to converse with you about potential sponsorship as I am entering Britain's Strongest Disabled Man (see below) on the 5th September this year.

I have been in a wheelchair for 5 years now b

ecause I have a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome that affects my connective tissues. In my case, I am unable to use my legs as my hips and knees cannot weight bare. I have made the most of the opportunities available to me by playing wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, disabled Swim teams, and most recently seated javelin and seated shot put. I am currently training for the Britain's Strongest Disabled Man competition in September 2021, having been invited by organiser and champion Gary Clarke. It will be streamed world wide.

The reason I am so passionate about sport, is the fact it generally saved my life, I was in a bad place years ago, just become disabled, with leg braces and crutches, and didnt really want to be alive, I started with self destroying behaviour and self harm, eventually I started to swim, and enjoyed it, eventually trying other sports, before settling into disabled strongman.

As of today, i have been 7 years without self harm, and suicidal thoughts.

It is this passion I want to spread, and I am hoping through sport, I can show people who think they have noth

ing worth while to be around for, that we all have a reason to exercise, and the fact that life is worth living.

The Opportunity

With your help I would like to raise the profile of how much disabled people can achieve and promote positivity around disabled people. By being associated with this high profile event, and an elite level athlete, you will be seen to be promoting diversity and would have increased exposure through my social media accounts. I currently have 1330+ followers on Instagram and my blog on Facebook, My Road to No 1, and is seen by an average of 600 people.

Although this will be my first event. I have trained myself at home through lock down, and now combine that with visits to the gym 4 times a week, working with a professional personal trainer, dietician, and nutritionist to be able to build my strength. Both my personal trainer and champion Gary Clarke say I have the potential to do very well in my strongman career, and in the future win both Britain's Strongest Disabled Man, and compete in Worlds Strongest Disabled Man.

I am looking for additional support to be able to train harder and work under a dedicated training regime so that I can not only reach my potential earlier, but also go into the competition at the

peak of my ability and be able to reach the highest results

I am a passionate and determined individual and want to not only achieve things personally but to work with other people with disabilities and show them they with the right mindset they can overcome life challenges and achieve their goals. With your companies help, together we can raise awareness that anyone can do anything, regardless of ability, and hopefully inspire the next generation of disabled athletes to push hard, and realise their own dreams.

Rather than asking for money, I am looking for sponsors to help cover my coaching costs of a personal trainer, food and supplements.

My personal trainer Matt Anderson, have had a chat and we have worked out that 2 sessions a week with him would be beneficial, but the more I work with him the more benefit I would receive.