West Berkshire & North Hampshire

Pictured: Newbury colleagues at the Paralympic Games (from left to right) Linda Kite, Chris Matthews, Ailene Barrett, Alistair Vetta, Debbie Davis, Regional Operations Manager Mike Hawker Carol Irwin, Leigh Rivers and  Terry Lawrenson (front centre)

Eight West Berkshire residents, who work at Sainsbury’s Newbury, were selected to attend the Paralympic Games where they watched the wheelchair basketball events.

The group were part of 5,000 Sainsbury’s colleagues chosen to attend the event at the Olympic Park on Monday 3 September. The selected colleagues nominated themselves and were chosen based on how passionate they were about the Paralympic Games.

Carol Irwin was one of the colleagues selected, “I’m really honoured to have been chosen from so many entries. I have really enjoyed helping local people to understand more about the Paralympic Games and raising money with the GB Goalball team.”

She adds “Our day has been amazing and it’s been a great opportunity to meet other colleagues from across the country and learn about their Paralympic experience.”

Store manager Becky Cooper says “Many of our colleagues have helped to raise the profile of the Paralympic Games, they have been a fantastic support in driving the Paralympic message in the community”.

As a main sponsor of the Paralympic Games, Sainsbury’s colleagues have helped to raise the profile of this year’s Paralympic Games in Newbury through a number of activities including fundraising events, visits from GB Goalball squad member Simon Goodall and a colleague Goalball tournament.