Brave Tony has sights set on Commonwealth

Tony Butcher, 35, from Roxton, has endured a serious boxing injury and had his jugular vein sliced when a juggernaut crushed a car he was driving.

He was also the victim of an assault which left him with a broken neck and Browns Sequard syndrome, which renders a loss of sensation and motor function caused by spinal cord laceration.

Despite all this he hopes to compete at the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow this July by winning gold in the 97kg to 107kg+ category at the British Senior Weightlifting and IPC Powerlifting Championships to be held in Coventry on May 10 and 11.

Tony said: “I hope to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and if things go well maybe aim for the Paralympics in Rio in 2014.

“I’m the only person in the world competing with Browns Sequard. Weightlifting’s hard with that as I am paralysed in the middle andcan’t feel my right side or use my hands.

“But you just adapt - it’s just about cracking on with life!” To sponsor Tony call 07595 339769.