By ADAM LAZZARI A FENLAND boxer has been recognised as a potential Olympian and awarded �500 to help him on his way to the 2012 London Games. Former European schoolboy champion Eli Frankham, 16, from Walpole St Andrew, was given the money by ASDA, Wisbec

By ADAM LAZZARI

A FENLAND boxer has been recognised as a potential Olympian and awarded �500 to help him on his way to the 2012 London Games.

Former European schoolboy champion Eli Frankham, 16, from Walpole St Andrew, was given the money by ASDA, Wisbech last Thursday.

It will help pay for equipment and travelling expenses and has been arranged through SportsAid - a charity which raises money from the private sector, such as ASDA, to provide financial assistance to Britain's leading amateur sports men and women.

Frankham, ranked British No. 2 in class one and two of his weight category, was selected from thousands who were nominated to SportsAid by their sport's national governing body.

He was also awarded �1,000 in October last year.

Sara Gibson, events coordinator at ASDA, said: "Eli has to travel all over the place for matches and it must cost his family a small fortune, so we're happy to do what we can to help."

Frankham, who is a member of Wisbech Amateur Boxing Club, has to send SportsAid monthly updates of his progress.

He will be boxing for England against Poland in April.

He said: "I was shocked to be selected from thousands of athletes for this funding.

"I have to keep working hard to make sure I keep getting picked for England so I can get noticed and then hopefully get picked for the British squad and have a chance of competing in the Olympics."

Eli's mother Vanessa said: "This money will make a big difference. Eli's at that age where he's growing all the time, so he needs new equipment, and he doesn't have a main sponsor.