BOLTON'S international wheelchair rugby star Ayaz Bhuta says the total funding cut to his sport will have serious consequences to Great Britain's ability to compete at the next Paralympics.
Wheelchair rugby lost all its £3.04million UK Sport support in December and has since lost an appeal against the decision.
The stripping of its funding could mean the end of the country's elite team of which Bhuta is a key player.
In a desperate measure to provide the funding necessary to enable the top players to train and compete at a high level, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby began a crowdfunding campaign at midnight.
It can be found at gbwr.org.uk and organisers are hoping to reclaim the whole £3m which has been stripped.
Bhuta, aged 27, who was part of the GB team at the Rio Paralympics last year and has played in the World and European Championships, said: "The funding cuts put our team's dream of Tokyo 2020 in jeopardy.
"The money helps with travel, equipment and coaches and without it we'll seriously struggle.
"By playing for GBWR, I'm able to inspire the next generation by visiting schools, and especially encouraging more Muslims to take up sport.
"If I'm not playing, I won't be able to do this in the local community"
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