Amongst those announced as Sport Aid recipients for 2012-13 was Olympic cyclist Jonny Bellis. It may be remembered that Jonny suffered horrendous injuries in a scooter accident in Italy in September 2009. Since then he has been gradually building up his fitness levels and although he was retained by the Saxo Bank Team in 2011, competitive opportunities were very limited.

Now racing in the colours of the Belgian-based AN Post team, Jonny is hoping to work his way back up to the form that saw him ride for Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics.

Isle of Man Sport Aid Chairman, Gary Corkhill, explained it was unusual for someone who had reached professional evel to return to the Sport Aid programme:

“We try to put people on the road to success and things looked so bright for Jonny before fate intervened. However, when we received a request for assistance there was no hesitation that Jonny was someone worth supporting. He is on a long road to full fitness but if his results can match his determination to succeed then he has every chance of returning to the top of his sport.”

Jonny added:

“I really appreciate the support from Sport Aid and having the use of the facilities at the Institute of Sport has made a big difference to my recovery.”

Isle of Man Sport Aid is a registered charity established by Isle of Man Sport to assist the most talented of the Isle of Man’s sportsmen and women. Amongst those either currently supported or who have been supported in recent years are Mark Cavendish, David Knight, Peter Kennaugh, Zoe Gillings and Conor Cummins. In 2006 Sport Aid established the Isle of Man Institute of Sport which became the Isle of Man Sport Institute when a new purpose built facility was opened at the NSC in 2009.