City of Stoke Athletes Supporters' Association Supporting North Staffordshire Athletes - 2012 and beyond! A new Community Association has been launched to support North Staffordshire's track and field Olympic hopefuls and young aspiring athletes. In North Staffordshire we have a large number of track and field athletes who are serious contenders for Great Britain Olympic Team at the 2012 Olympics in London. It is our intention to directly and indirectly support these elite athletes, as well as other young track and field athletes, by raising funds that can be used to provide transport to meetings, equipment, help with physiotherapy and sports medicine, related bills and coaching. Most of these elite athletes are coached at, or use, the facilities of the City of Stoke Athletics Club based at Northwood Stadium. It is also the aim to help the City of Stoke Athletics club identify and support other young talent in around North Staffordshire and to make sure their coaching staff are given the resources and development they need to help all athletes reach their full potential. North Staffordshire is often (quite unfairly) seen as an area where low achievement and lack of aspiration is evident. At least 16 of our young athletes are already competing at National and International level which demonstrates real achievement and success - a message we wish to send far and wide! We are looking for the help of businesses, working in the North Staffordshire area, to show just how far these and other young athletes in the area can go, given support and encouragement. We aim to hold 3 to 4 events per year raising an initial target of £35,000 per year. We have the patronage of the TV presenter Nick Hancock and we hope that many former Olympians will attend our events bringing positive publicity to North Staffordshire and supporting business partners. It is our intention to raise the profile of all our track and field contenders by providing regular updates on their progress to all supporters and the general public, putting North Staffordshire behind its athletes as they strive towards their dream. Our first event is a Grand Winter Ball and Charity Auction at the King's Hall in Stoke-on-Trent on 11th November 2006 - telephone 01630 672819 or email COSASA@btinternet.com for more details. City of Stoke Athletes Supporters Association Patron: Nick Hancock President: Neil Fairlamb Secretary: Fay Marsh Treasurer: Jane Price From left to right: Ashlee Nelson, Andrew Marsh, Jasmine Rowe, Elliot Price, Patron: Nick Hancock, Martin Bartholomew, Chelsea Cooper, President: Neil Fairlamb, Alice Lennox