A TWO-YEAR sponsorship deal to support Paralympic champion David Weir up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games has been signed by a Wallington company.
International IT and telecommunications recruitment company Penta Consulting, in Stafford Road, will provide direct financial support for Mr Weir, together with backing through marketing and producing an enhanced website.
Full details of the sponsorship package will be announced early in the new year.
Paul Clark, Penta's chief executive, said the company was really excited about working with an athlete who has ten Paralympic medals and six London Marathon titles to his name.
Mr Clark said until recently the company had been involved in supporting major charities.
But a decision has been made to switch that financial support to projects based in the Sutton and Wallington community.
Mr Clark said this change of tack has seen Penta supporting a variety of local projects, including the Orchard College for severely disabled people, and providing a mentoring scheme for business students at Green High School in Sutton.
The success of the programme has been demonstrated by the fact that Penta in the Community was rated as the UK's number one "Giving Something Back" programme by The Sunday Times earlier this year.
Mr Clark said: "We see working with David as an extension of that. We are a Wallington company doing 70 per cent of its business internationally and David is a Wallington hero competing on the international stage.
"This is a perfect fit for us as we are both top Wallington 'brands' committed to supporting local charities and not-for-profit organisations."
Mr Clark added: "As well as supporting him in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games we see him as an ambassador for what we are doing in the community."
Mr Weir, who lives in Wallington, said: "It is an honour to be recognised in the locality by a massive company like Penta."
