WITH our TV screens having been filled with the successes of athletes from around the world defying their circumstances to become medal-winning athletes, one injured serviceman from Swindon is hoping to climb the medal tables to pole position himself.

Corie Mapp set off for Canada last week to train for the coming para-bobsleigh season which will see him compete in six races in both North America and Europe.

But faced with spiralling costs of more than £7,000 to fund his expedetion across the pond he is hoping the people of Swindon will dig deep to help him realise his dream of becoming world number one.

The 37-year-old from Redhouse served in the Household Cavalry from 2005 until 2013 but was injured in Afghanistan in 2010 by an IED and subsequently losing both legs below the knee.

“Since then, I’ve become involved in sport as I have found it to help me cope with the trauma I’ve endured and gives my life new meaning and purpose,” he said.

“I also use sport to inspire others and to show that because you may have had an injury or a setback, life itself isn’t over but only began anew.”

For the past two years he has reached number two in the world para-bobsleigh rankings, but he is hoping that this year he can rise right to the top.

But that will require a gruelling season of training in North America, for which he requires funding to meet the costs of being guided by the coaches as well as accommodation, transportation and food.

He has managed to secure funding to get him through the first few weeks of training but now, with the backing of Lloyds Bank in The Brunel shopping centre, he is hoping to meet his fundraising target.

Bank manager Ben Jones said that one of his colleagues had first met Corie and been inspired by his story. They then set about organising fundraisers to try and help Corie meet his target and are urging the rest of the town to get behind him.

Corie said: “It means a lot to have the bank behind me – it is not often that people volunteer to help unless you are one of the more well-known athletes, so it’s great that they are getting behind me and trying to help me to achieve my goals.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation should visit Lloyds in The Brunel centre and ask to speak to Ben, who will then deposit any donations into Corie’s account.