The award not only sees the 25-year-old from Hereford receive a £500 ($824) cheque but also a pledge from Asda to hold as many fund raising events as possible this year as they look to try to help Pearson with her training costs and preparations ahead of the Games.

"This is the fourth year we have supported a local athlete and we are very proud to be supporting Josie in her chosen sport," said Asda's community colleague June Thurston.

"We hope to raise as much money as possible for Josie in her bid to get to the 2012 Paralympics.

"Josie has received a cheque to start off her partnership with Asda and with her help, I am sure we can raise a lot more."

Pearson was just 17 when a head-on car crash killed her boyfriend and left her, a promising show jumper, paralysed from the chest down.

But despite the tragic incident, Pearson has gone on to become one of Britain's top Paralympians.

She has been part of the British athletics for a number of years now but actually made history when she was named the first ever woman to play in the British wheelchair rugby team when she was included in the 12-strong squad that claimed fourth place at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

She made the switch to wheelchair athletics in the 100m, 200m and 400m disciplines.

This switch came about when she was introduced to Anthony Hughes, performance director at the Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW), who saw her potential to be a very good track athlete and she has not looked back since.

Within just three months of the switch, she was selected to be part of team going to New Zealand for the Christchurch 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Athletics Championships in January this year where she just missed out on a medal.

"I want to get the gold in 2012," said Pearson.

"That's my ultimate goal."

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