Hannah Cockroft makes it a golden Christmas for children

The National Lottery today took one of the athletes it funds, Hannah Cockroft, to inspire and thrill children with her gold medals at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax.

20 year-old wheelchair athlete Hannah from Halifax won two gold medals at The London 2012 Paralympic Games.Her visit is part of a campaign to demonstrate that it is not just sport that benefits from Lottery funding.

Hannah is one of 1,200 athletes to receive National Lottery funding, which allows her to train full time and receive the best coaching and medical support.

Eureka! The National Children's Museum has received almost £600,000 of National Lottery funding. It is a unique place for families and groups to visit, where children are inspired to learn all about themselves and the world around them by playing, imagining, experimenting and - above all - having fun.

Hannah was delighted to join children in a Santa Sing-along:

"National Lottery funding has changed my life by helping me fulfill my sporting potential. I loved competing at the London 2012 Paralympics and Lottery funding is supporting me on my journey to Rio in 2016.

"National Lottery players raise £30 million every week, helping a wide variety of good causes. Eureka! The National Children's Museum is a great example. It is a wonderful place, educating children in a fun and creative way."

Michelle Emerson, Director of Marketing and Development at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, said the pupils from Brotherton and Byram Primary School in Wakefield were delighted to meet Hannah:

"Christmas came early for our young visitors today. It was a joy to see how delighted the children were to meet Hannah and to touch her gold medals. Hannah is an inspiration to us all; she shows what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. National Lottery funding has helped Hannah and Eureka! become so successful. National Lottery players should be proud of the difference their funding is making."