JERSEY para dressage rider Simon Laurens’ achievement of a team gold and an individual silver at this year’s Paralympics has not guaranteed his future in the sport.

His dreams of continuing until the 2012 event in London are still in the balance as to date, despite appeals for sponsorship, he has received no offers of funding. Believing that it is an opportunity that Jersey can’t afford to miss, a campaign for sponsorship has been launched by local resident, Julie Rodilosso. She explained that she would like to find a target figure of £80,000 to keep Simon going for the next four years. It could be contributed in many ways including dress down days. She had also written to Jersey’s Chief Minister, Frank Walker and had received a reply stating that her appeal would be considered by members of the council later this month.

Pictured: Simon Laurens at a recent Jersey Dressage event at Les Marais where he judged along with Juliet Seal (right). Also in in the picture is Julie Rodilosso