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Badminton champion Andrea Hardwick is deaf and training hard to represent Great Britain in Taipei at this year's 21st Summer Deaflympic Games.

Yet her hard work may prove to have been a wasted effort following the Government's retraction of funding for the games.

Supported by Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People, Andrea along with marathan runner Serena Blackburn from Horsforth are trying to raise at least £6,300 to secure their place in the games.

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Andrea, 42, told Rothwell Today: "Millions of pounds are thrown at the regular Olympics and Paralympics, and no doubt they deserve it, but this is just as important to us.

"I personally feel like it is not being taken seriously and that I am being unfairly pushed out of British sport."

Rob Young, director of Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People, said: "This lack of funding just acts to further segregate the 9 million people in the UK with a hearing impairment.

"Serena and Andrea are both talented, motivated sportswomen and are an inspiration to the deaf and hard of hearing community for their efforts and achievements.

"It will be a real shame if they are prevented from pursuing their dreams. As a charity we strive to help deaf and hard of hearing people in all areas of life and this is a fantastic example of the kind of work we want to continue with throughout 2009."

Andrea has previously won six Deaflympic medals and this year will be her last ever games as a competitor. Andrea's late husband, Stephen Hardwick MBE, captained the 1984 GB football team and had the honour of flying the flag at the opening ceremony.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: "The Government remains wholly committed to everyone, with or without a disability, being able to participate in sport.

"Under the new Sport England strategy there will be a very real onus on National Governing Bodies to work closely with the English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS) and other equality partners in the creation of their new whole sport plans, ensuring they are targeted at the whole population.

"UK Deaf Sport is a member of the EFDS, which in turn is the national funding partner of Sport England for disability sport. They have funding for this financial year of £1.1 million.

"Deaf athletes who have the potential to succeed in Olympic and Paralympic sport can access funding through UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme. Some, like the diver Tony Ally, have already benefited from the programme, which helps provide athletes with the support they need to compete at the highest level.

"However, as we aspire towards the ambitious target of finishing second at the Paralympics and in the top four in the Olympic medal table in 2012 difficult funding decisions have to be made.

"With its remit now fully focused on achieving these targets, UK Sport has directed its limited public funding accordingly and is now no longer able to provide funds to UK Deaf Sport.

"We welcome the substantial funds pledged by donors to UK Deaf Sport in recent months and remain optimistic about them being able to attend the games in Taipei."

* To sponsor Serena or Andrea or to help fund the trip to Taipei, call Rob Young on (0113) 2438328 to donate money to Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People.