Hollie Arnold from Carmen Close, Holton le Clay, was born without her right forearm or hand and as reported by the Leader in June, she will be competing in the Beijing Paralympics in September.

“I am kind of nervous but it’s going to be such an amazing experience so I’m excited too,” said Hollie.

Javelin-thrower Hollie jets off on August 24 to Macau, an island near Hong Kong, for a week's warm weather acclimatisation training and then on August 31 she will arrive in Beijing to train for a week before she competes on September 8.

And the pollution problem in the hosting city whch has been widely reported in the national press proves nothing more than a hindrance to Hollie.

“Training will be very different because of the bad smog there at the moment but I will get used to it. The whole experience of competing and representing Great Britain just makes me so proud, it won’t matter.”

She will be battling it out to become champion javelin thrower with parents Jill and Graham in the stands supporting her.

Mum Jill said: “She went to try on her Great Britain kit and I think putting it all on really brought it home that this is actually happening. It doesn’t seem like a dream we are going to wake up from anymore, the excitement is really starting to kick in.”

Inevitably, Hollie’s family pay thousands of pounds for each competition Hollie enters and desperately need sponsorship.

Hollie has been sponsored by Grimsby Institution of Higher and Further Education and Caudwell Children, an organization that provides specialist equipment like javelins.

But for Hollie to fulfill her dream more sponsorship is vital.

l If you are interested in sponsoring our hopeful champion please contact Jill on 01472 591691.