Local house builder sponsors Wiltshire swimmer at world swimming competition

A local developer has backed a Trowbridge-based competitor who will represent Britain at the World Downs Syndrome Swimming Championships.

As part of its Community Champions scheme, Persimmon Homes Wessex has donated £2,000 to Dorian Williams’ bid for glory. The cheque was presented at Trowbridge Sports Centre, where Dorian trains with Trowbridge Amateur Swimming Club, with Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, in attendance.

Recognising the huge contribution that his coaches have made to his progress, the family have also been well supported by one-to-one coaching through the adult swimming lesson programme at the sports centre. This has helped with his technique development and now Dorian has achieved the qualifying times required to be invited to the World Championships, in Antalya, Turkey next month.

Downs Syndrome GB formed to promote and encourage swimming for persons with Downs Syndrome and offer them opportunities to compete internationally. With no national funding available for Downs Syndrome athletes, all expenses have to be met by the swimmers and their families.

Travelling to camps and attending meets, entry fees, hotel accommodation and kit means high costs and Dorian is looking for sponsorship and support to help him make it to Turkey.

Persimmon Homes Wessex is planning to deliver up to 2,500 homes to the south east of the town and is an essential component of meeting Wiltshire’s housing need. Two primary schools and a secondary school are also part of the plans.

The five-star developer donates over £700,000 each year on good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain. Recent local recipients include Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Julia’s House Children Hospice.

If people would like to follow or support Dorian, they can do so on his GoFundMe page – gofundme.com/f/dorian-get-to-downs-syndrome-world-championships

Speaking on the sponsorship ahead of the championships, Dorian said “It has long been a dream of mine to represent my country at the World Downs Syndrome Swimming Championships and I am thrilled to have secured Persimmon’s sponsorship to help me do this. Through swimming, which I have been doing from an early age, especially now competitively and with my swimming club, I have found friendship, health, and achievement through the sport.

“I am looking forward to the competition and thank Persimmon again for their help. If anyone would like to donate, they can find details on my GoFundMe page, for which I’d be very grateful.”

Persimmon Homes Wessex Sales Director Pauline Fletcher, added “We were delighted to spot Dorian’s fundraising campaign for his chance to represent his country and we felt it was a great way to support someone from Trowbridge, an area which we are hoping to have a significant presence in soon.

“Our Community Champions scheme caters for a range of people and organisations that make a difference in their area, and we felt that Dorian was an excellent example and inspiration, not just in Wiltshire but, nationally, so we just had to lend a hand.

“On behalf of Persimmon Wessex we’d like to wish Dorian all the best at the World Championships and fingers crossed he brings home a medal!”

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Leisure, commented “We’re delighted that after we highlighted his fundraising campaign, Dorian has been supported by Persimmon as part of their Community Champions initiative. This donation will go a long way to help him achieve his goal of attending the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Turkey, where we wish him every success.”