A promising netball star has been given a financial boost.

Stephanie Burt, 18, was today (Thursday) presented with a special SportsAid bursary at the latest SportsAid Norfolk Business lunch.

The biomedicine student at the University of East Anglia, who is a member of the England netball U19 squad, was presented with the bursary by Paralympic gold medallist Danny Crates.

The grant will help Stephanie, who lives in Eaton, with her travelling costs.

The teenager plays for the Hertfordshire Mavericks and travels between Norwich and London several times a week. She also has to travel to various matches up and down the country. This week alone has seen the 6ft 4in goal shooter travel to Uxbridge, Essex and Bath.

Stephanie, who has competed at a high level at tennis and javelin, said: 'It's brilliant. Netball is not an Olympic sport so to get this support is fantastic.'

SportsAid Norfolk runs a programme of lunches to raise funds for selected young Norfolk sportspeople who have the potential to go on to national and international competition, to help with their equipment and travel expenses that they normally have to rely on their parents for.

The lunches are sponsored by Norwich-based businesses oneonone communications, Howes Percival LLP, Davis Langdon, Lovewell Blake and Handelsbanken.

Mr Crates, guest speaker at the lunch, which was held at Carrow Road, said: 'It's always nice to recognise up and coming talent in the world of sport.

'The travelling can often be at the parents' expense and SportsAid recognises that.'

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