A BLACKPOOL schoolgirl could see her Olympic dreams come true this weekend -- thanks to a marathon run by a college lecturer.

Talented wheelchair athlete Rochelle Woods, 15, of Highfield School hopes to make it to the 2004 Paralympics, and Blackpool and the Fylde College lecturer Brian Porter is running the Flora London Marathon this Sunday (April 14) to raise funds to help. Rochelle sustained disabling injuries in an accident when she was 11, but she has already won a clutch of medals at the World Wheelchair Games in the USA, winning gold in discus, javelin, shot and 800m, silver in the pentathlon and bronze in the 200m. She was also a disabled Great North Run winner.

Brian, who lectures in sport therapy at the college's Ansdell campus, said: "Rochelle's parents and friends have raised money for a new chair. The running costs of the chair are very high, with wheels alone costing up to £500.

"I would like to raise money to help this very talented athlete get to the 2004 Olympics. Rochelle deserves every opportunity to be in Athens."

You can pledge your support to Brian by e-mailing him at bpo@blackpool.ac.uk