A YOUNG Hull swimmer who was awarded sponsorship to live out her dream of competing at international level has been invited to meet to Prime Minster.
Natalie Moon, 18, will travel to Antwerp in September after being selected to compete in the European Disability Swimming Championships.
The trip was made possible after Neil Hudgell Solicitors agreed to sponsor Natalie £1,600 to cover the full cost of attending, a fee which the family were unable to afford.
Now, she has been invited to meet Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at 10 Downing Street before she travels to Belgium.
Natalie’s father Arthur, 66, who supports his daughter constantly as she pursues her swimming dream, said: “We got a calll from the people at the Special Olympics asking if Natalie would be interested to meet the Prime Minister.
“It was great to get the call. A lump came to my throat.She couldn’t have done any of this without the financial support from Neil Hudgell Solicitors.
“It’s been a tremendous help and Natalie is really excited. We have high hopes for her bringing some medals back.”
Following selection, Natalie’s two-week trip to the Championships was initially in doubt over the travel, accommodation and training camp costs, and Arthur even looked into getting a loan to ensure his daughter could continue to follow her dream.
Thanks to the sponsorship, she will now be able to enjoy the opening ceremony in Brussels, as well as enjoying the experience with her Great Britain teammates.
Natalie, of Rosmead Street, east Hull, who swims for the Kingston Upon Hull club, is no stranger to competing in British disability swimming, winning five gold medals and a silver at the North East Region Disability Championships last year.
With her sights set firmly on the Olympics in Rio in 2016, Natalie hopes to continue her success swimming in a category for participants with learning difficulties.
She has recently completed a pier to pier swim in Bournemouth in aid of the British Heart Foundation and will compete in the nationals in August in Sheffield before her trip to Antwerp.
Natalie will also visit the Belgian embassy in London after her visit to number 10.
She said: “I’m excited to meet the Prime Minister. I’ve never been to Number 10 Downing Street before.
“Training is intense but it’s going well and I’m really looking forward to Antwerp.”
Coach Graham Martin trains Natalie in Hull’s Regional Development squad five nights a week and has recently changed her training and diet plan to ensure she is ready for the challenge ahead.
He said: “I’m delighted Natalie has been given the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and I’m so happy to be on her side as her coach.
“It’s an honour to see what she has achieved . I think she will be in awe. It’s such an achievement.”
