Bradley's chairman of the board

Bradley Gaulter, 19, wrote to The Gazette last year after Blackpool-based charity Swallowdale Trust promised to give away an incredible £10,000 to deserving youngsters.

The former Ripley St Thomas Sixth Form student, who lives on Head Dyke Lane in Preesall, had been hand-picked as a junior member of the British snowboardcross team after being named British Junior Snowboardcross champion in 2013.

He wrote: “I want to continue my snowboarding career to World Cup and then Olympic level. The only thing standing in my way is money.”

A £250 cash gift from the Swallowdale Trust meant Bradley was able to buy a long-term ski slope pass which enabled him to train full-time to improve his skills.

Now a proud senior member of Team GB, Bradley is boarding competitively all over Europe.

Proud mum Dianne Gaulter said: “He was competiting in Italy last weekend and he’ll be going to the Czech Republic next week.

“He’s definitely got his sights set on the Olympics. He’s training with the team at the moment, he’s not at World Cup level yet. We’re hoping he gets it next year, and then he’ll be able to qualify.”

She added that the extra funding from the Swallowdale Trust had improved Bradley’s skills on the slopes massively’.

She said: “It has helped him because the money allowed him to buy his lift pass which let him train all year with the team.

“His boarding has improved massively.

“He puts 100 per cent commitment and effort into snowboarding and he’s really looking forward to what the future holds.

“I think he’s having a fantastic time and we just want him to fulfill his dreams.

“For someone from the Fylde coast to represent Team GB is just fantastic. We’re unbelievably proud.”