South West insurance firm Cornish Mutual have agreed to help 23-year-old athlete from West Cornwall to work towards her dream of competing in the London 2012 Olympics.

The insurer, based in Truro, have given Blewett £500 through the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Youth in Cornwall.

Despite having never even sat in a canoe kayak before the beginning of 2009, Blewett was one of four women out of an initial group of 900 to be selected to train for London 2012 as part of the "Girls4Gold" scheme, run by UK Sport in association with the English Institute of Sport.

The former lifeguard currently receives intensive training on a full-time basis at the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, near Nottingham.

Alan Goddard, managing director for Cornish Mutual, said: “We're absolutely delighted to work with the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund to find such a deserving beneficiary of our bursary.

"Kerry is an inspirational young woman with her sights firmly fixed on flying the flag for Cornwall and striving for medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

"I’m pleased that we can play a part in helping her on her path toward achieving her potential.”

Blewett said: “I feel honoured that the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Youth has recognised my talent by awarding the Cornish Mutual bursary to me.

"I’m totally committed to giving everything that I’ve got to my dream of representing my country at Olympics and the additional kit will help me maximise my training during the colder weather and help with living expenses while I’m away from home.”


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