The Lowestoft Lions have joined forces with The Lowestoft Journal to back the Ashley School Athletics Squad.

Providing joint sponsorship under the banner of LLASOA - Lowestoft Lions Ashley School Olympic Appeal - the aim is to raise funds for the Lowestoft-based athletes to help them on their way to the top by appearing at other national and international events in the lead up to the 2012 Games.

The talented group of six youngsters, comprising Kimberley Aspland, Chelsea Dixon, Holly Durbidge, Declan Manning, Lewis Pryke and Adam Szucs, were all honoured this week as they lifted the Best Team award at the Active Waveney Sports Awards last month.

The appeal has been unveiled by the current Lions President Glyn Page and incoming President Keith Moore - who is due to take over next week - as part of the Lions 50th anniversary celebrations for the year ahead.

The Journal will chart the progress of the youngsters regularly, with a set of wristbands now available for purchase to boost “this worthy cause.”

Page and Moore last week handed over £1806 to the youngsters and their teacher Jackie Milton as they aim to raise around £10,000 for the team.

"The pupils with learning difficulties have already competed for the senior championships in Sweden earlier this year, and it is essential that to qualify to represent Britain and indeed the town of Lowestoft, that these youngsters need to attend as many pre-training and selection events as possible," a Lions spokesman said.

"The people of Lowestoft will be encouraged to collect the five colours of the Olympic Rings to show their support for this worthy cause."

With this in mind, a number of wristbands emblazoned with the LLASOA logo on them in the colours of the Olympic Rings priced at a minimum £3 have been made and are now on sale at newsagents across the Suffolk town.