A FREESTYLE skier who has set his sights on competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics has had a boost in his fundraising campaign – thanks to a Barry optician that shares his sporting vision!

Holton Road Specsavers has jumped in to help 28-year-old Rob Taylor move closer to achieving his Olympic dream.

The company, in an effort to assist the self-funded athlete, will provide a year's worth of contact lenses to help ease his financial burden. Rob represented Great Britain at the 2011 World Cup in the USA - after recovering from knee and shoulder injuries which kept him out of the sport for two years - and will continue to compete as a member of the World Cup freestyle half-pipe circuit.

He would be one of only a handful of Welsh athletes to have ever taken part in the Winter Olympics, which will be in Sochi, Russia in two years’ time, if he qualifies for Team GB.

Rob said: "When I’m home in Barry I work with a gardening company, but I save virtually everything to enable me to travel to compete at events around the world. "It means I end up living off next to nothing, so when Specsavers offered to supply me with free contact lenses it was a massive help with the costs.”

As readers will know, Rob suffered personal tragedy when his brother - skating champion Richard - died in an accident in 2004 aged just 23.

"My brother got me into the sport, and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Rob. "He was, and still is, my inspiration. He’s what makes me stronger.”

And mum Gaynor is backing him every step of the way.

"None of this would have been possible without the support of my mother,” added Rob.

"She has helped me in so many ways I couldn’t even begin to describe. She encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream and is the strongest person I know. I can’t thank her enough."

Director at Specsavers Barry, Jamie Pullen said: “When we heard that Robert was having to pay his own way while competing at the very highest level of freestyle skiing, we were keen to help.

“By providing Rob with free contact lenses we hope it will at least take the strain of one cost away while he continues to follow his dream."

Individuals, businesses or companies wanting to support Rob, financially or with equipment, can email robert.taylor84@live.co.uk Pledges can be also made via a fundraising bucket at Strands hairdressers, Island Road, Barry, or directly to Gaynor Taylor at 72 Porth-y-Castell, Barry.

Alternatively, visit http://gogetfunding.com/project/get-me-to-the-winter-olympics