Managing director steps up to support sports award

HULL: The managing director of Paragon Data Services (PDS) has pledged his support for an awards event that recognises local sporting heroes and champions.

Iain Bland, of PDS in Geneva Way, Sutton Fields, is sponsoring the Talented Disabled Performer category of the Hull And East Yorkshire Sporting Heroes And Champions awards for a second year.

The awards have been organised by First Hull Trains and KCFM.

Mr Bland is also donating £1,000 to the Smile Foundation, a charity that ensures funds are reinvested into local amateur sport.

The cash is half of the sponsorship money he raised by running six miles in the Sport Relief Hull Mile.

He said: "I was delighted to be involved with the sports awards last year and I had no hesitation in getting behind the awards again. We will be making as many people as we can aware about this great initiative.

"I didn't give it a second thought when it came to raising money for the Smile Foundation, it's a fantastic charity because it helps lots of very worthy local causes and the great thing about this is that the Smile Foundation is the nominated charity for the Hull And East Yorkshire Sporting Heroes And Champions awards."

Other local organisations that have committed to supporting this year's awards include Kingston Communications, Princes Quay, Eltherington Group, St Stephen's, VHEY, Hull City Council, The One Point and NHS Hull.