AN Amman Valley teen who has a dream of being a part of Team GB at the next Olympics is looking for help from local businesses.

Rhyddian Glyn Rees, of Glanaman, has won the Welsh Karate Champion title twice and now wants to take his ambitions one step further and represent his nation at the worldwide sporting event.

The Ysgol Dyffryn Aman pupil is currently a member of Hafod Shor-A-Kai Karate Club in Swansea and trains four times a week.

Rhyddian’s father, Jason said: “Rhyddian has been attending karate lessons since he was 6-years-old and has been going to competitions for the past two years.

“I would say it has become more of a lifestyle than a hobby for Rhyddian over the past 12 months.

“He runs, skips, lifts weights and trains around six days a week. He goes to karate four nights a week at the Ken-Bu-Kan in Swansea.”

“Due to his ability, Rhyddian is often grouped with adults in fights, but that doesn’t phase him.”

Rhyddian and his family have recently returned from Ireland, where the 13-year-old was fighting at the Irish International Open, where he walked away with an individual bronze medal and his team won gold.

This week, the Rees family are set to travel to Italy. Due to the travelling expenses to fund Rhyddian’s ambition, the family are now looking for a business to sponsor the teen for him to be able to achieve his dream.

Former All Whites rugby player Jason added: “This weekend we are going to Italy. We are flying and staying for a few nights but because there is no money in karate we have to fund everything ourselves.

“We pay for everything. The flights, hotel, transport and equipment. We all want to go and support him abroad but it comes at an expensive price.

“We are just hoping a business will be interested in supporting a youngster who works extremely hard and wants to represent our country in karate.”

Next year, Rhyddian will be fighting in the World Championships as part of the Welsh squad and will go through qualifying rounds. If he’s successful, he will be fighting in the next Olympics.

If anyone would like to sponsor Rhyddian then you can contact Jason on 07985 629962.