THEY have never let their disabilities hold them back.

Now talented sports players from Huddersfield are celebrating getting a much-needed cash boost to help them continue to shine.

Swimmer Joanne Kempley, table tennis player Howard Tomlinson and twin brothers Barry and Steven Nicholson – who are bowlers – received a share of more than £1,700.

The cash was raised by Kirklees Faiths Forum which staged a sponsored silence across businesses, places of worship and schools.

They received their cheques during a special presentation event at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday.

The money will help them with training, buy equipment and enable them to travel to and enter competitions all over the country and beyond.

The recipients and their parents described the cash as a welcome boost for those who are often forgotten in community fundraising activities.

Joanne’s mum, Chris, picked up the money for the 21-year-old from Almondbury, who was unable to attend.

Joanne, who has Down’s syndrome, is at the top of her game. Her recent triumphs including winning a clutch of medals in the Down’s Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Taiwan.

Her swimming takes her all over the world, but travelling and entry fees are expensive.

The money she was awarded will help towards the £1,000 she needs to enter the Down’s Syndrome World Championships in Italy next year.

Chris said: “I think ideas like this are absolutely fantastic.

“Joanne loves taking part in these competitions but it’s expensive to fund everything herself so this takes a real weight off.

“I think people with special needs can be seen as down the bottom of the pecking order at things like school, so having something like a sport that they can be good at really helps boost their self-confidence and self-worth.”

Table tennis star Howard, 35, is in the Great Britain Table Tennis Squad.