Race for funds ahead of Deaf Olympics

Beth Lishman and Colette Doran are both at the top of their sport. Beth is the best deaf female hammer thrower in the country, while Colette is the leading javelin thrower.

Deaf athletes compete in the Olympics, but often face communication problems with event officials.

The main event in their sporting calendar is the Deaflympics, which has been part of the Olympic movement since 1924.

Beth and Colette put in hours of training every week, and are gold medal contenders for next year's Deaflympics in Bulgaria.

However, funding for deaf athletes has been cut, because money has been diverted to Paralympians.

The Cumbrian pair must now raise almost three and a half thousand pounds each if they want to compete in Sofia in 2013.

To keep up their training schedules and pay for travel, they now have to raise the money by next Spring, or miss out on their Olympic dream.