Paralympic swimmer and paracanoeist Jeanette Chippington has been announced as the Guest of Honour for this year's Ger Berkshire Active Awards.

Maidenhead athlete and world record-setter Jeanette will lead the celebration of Berkshire's physical activity and sports awards' winners on Friday, February 15 at the Hilton Hotel in Reading.

Jeanette represented Great Britain as a swimmer at five consecutive Summer Paralympics, winning a total of 12 medals, including two Gold.

She also set world records in the 100m freestyle S6 class, and the 4 x 50m women's freestyle relay. The Athens’ Paralympics 2004 was Jeanette’s last Games as a swimmer before she made a remarkable sporting comeback in 2013 as a Paracanoeist, winning medals at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships between 2012 and 2017.

Jeanette was made a MBE in the 2017 Honour’s List for services to canoeing.

Get Berkshire's CEO Brett Nicholls said: "We are particularly delighted to have Jeanette join us as our Guest of Honour this year, as she won the prestigious GBA Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2016."

The annual awards celebrate sporting excellence across the county as well as applauding the unseen work that goes on behind the scenes to make sport and physical activity happen. Awards are also made to the schools, community groups and workplaces who put physical activity and wellbeing at the forefront of their objectives.

Three award categories will be decided by public vote this year: Active Primary School Award, Active Secondary School Award and Community Club of the Year. The others will be determined by an expert panel.

More than 300 guests attended last year’s sold-out event. A raffle on the night raised £1,300 with proceeds split equally to Children’s Cancer Charity (CLIC Sergeant) and the Stroke Association.

The 7th GBA Awards are supported by a range of sponsors including Technogym UK Ltd, Reading Football Club Community Foundation, Field Seymour Parkes LLP, Hilton Hotel Reading, Phoenix Sporting Goods, Everyone Active, Michael Burbridge Ltd, Places Leisure and Berkshire Unitary Authorities.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities contact nick.west-oram@getberkshireactive.org.