Sanctuary Care helps former Olympian to visit the Olympics

A former Olympian is attending the Olympics with the help of a Sanctuary Care Ltd home in London.

At the age of 17, Steffen Cranmer was the youngest ever member selected for the British shooting team competing in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. He also took part in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 and Rome in 1960. In 1958 he was crowned world champion in small-bore rifle shooting in Moscow.

Mr Cranmer suffered a stroke after having heart bypass surgery in 2006, which left his mobility and speech severely impaired.

When The British Olympic Association gave him tickets to the rifle shooting finals in Woolwich, his family was unsure if he could attend without finding specialist accommodation.

After speaking to Sanctuary Care, Mr Cranmer and his wife Yvonne will be staying at Ashgreen House Nursing Home, which provides care for the elderly, in Woolwich, enabling this trip of a lifetime to happen.

Steffen, who is 78 and lives in the Cotswolds, will stay at the home before travelling with eldest daughter Sarah and Yvonne to the event on Friday.

Ms Cranmer said: “We are and always have been terribly proud of my father and cannot begin to express our gratitude for the help received from Sanctuary to make this unbelievably special day possible for him.

“He can’t believe he’s going and is such a humble man, he can’t believe he’s entitled to go.”

The home’s acting manager Momarr Camara said: “The team at Ashgreen House are truly honoured to have Steffen and Yvonne staying with us.

“We are so proud that we have been able to help the Cranmer family and make this special day happen.”

Image of Olympic rings - credit London 2012