Sixteen-year-old Toby Richardson is targeting gold at the 2028 Paralympic Games, with a fresh funding boost set to aid his preparations.
Toby was aged 11 when he was diagnosed with a fast-growing cancer wrapped around his spinal cord.
Major surgery and treatment saved his life but left him able to take only a few steps.
He went on to take up wheelchair rugby before switching to wheelchair racing, where his pace quickly stood out.
Now coached by Micky Bushell, Toby is ranked number one in Great Britain and world number two in the under-17 category.
He competes in 100m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m events.
Wiltshire-based company Urathon has stepped in as an official sponsor after its managing director saw Toby’s story online.
Lucy Carson, managing director of the Calne firm, said:
“I was scrolling through a Facebook feed and saw a post about him from a mutual friend. I thought we should absolutely help this young man who has been through so much.
“We love his spirit in the face of all that he has been up against. If we can help a young person like Toby to achieve his dreams then we are delighted to do so.”
The company designs and supplies disability aids across the UK.
For Toby and his family, the sponsorship will help with the cost of travelling from Purton to Yate several times a week for training.
His mother Leanne said:
“The sponsorship means a great deal to Toby, and we are so grateful to Urathon.
“Just things like travelling to and from Yate uses a lot of petrol, so any help we can get is wonderful.”
Toby is already a winner at the Pride of Swindon Awards and continues to attract attention locally and nationally.
His focus remains on steady progress and competition as he works towards Los Angeles in three years’ time.
With growing support behind him, the Purton teenager’s rise is being closely watched across Swindon and Wiltshire.
