With just under 200 days to go until the Paralympics starts in London, the Echo's Dave Marshall spoke to sitting volleyball player Andrew Skinner on the sacrifices he is having to make to be part of the Games...

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Positivity is the driving force behind Paralympic hopeful Andrew Skinner as he bids to achieve selection to the GB sitting volleyball squad.

And the single-minded athlete from Skellingthorpe has ditched the part-time approach to concentrate on the sport full-time as he attempts to return to full fitness in time to force his way into the thoughts of selectors ahead of the London Games.

The father of three faces a race against time and admits he is playing 'catch-up' with other members of the GB squad who are further along with their training.

The London Games have been his main focus for almost six years and his determination to be there when the action starts on August 29 has already led to sacrifices being made by himself and his family.

"To be honest, myself and my wife Nicola had the conversation six years ago when I started with the GB squad," said Skinner.

"When it was announced the Games were coming to London, I knew that was going to be my aim.

"I have to do this. I have to get there and to do that I have to be as professional as I can be.

"You have to think positive and you have to be confident, otherwise there is no point in you going for it.

"It has meant a lot of sacrifices and I have to leave my family all week, I travel down to the training base in Roehampton on a Sunday and I don't come back until Friday.

"I hate to leave the family, but at the age of 42, we are well aware that this is my one big shot at going to the Paralympics.

"I have three children, Christian (18), Jazmin (11) and Charlie, who is five, and they are all very excited about the prospect of dad being at the Olympics.

"We have tickets to watch the volleyball if I am not selected, but the kids want dad to be there competing.

"It would be great if they are talking about it with friends at school and they can say 'yeah, my dad's there in the athletes' village'."

Skinner's Paralympic dreams suffered a setback last year when he was ruled out of the GB scene for seven months with a shoulder injury.

Now, his concern is that the time away could have hampered his chances of making the GB squad.

But immersing himself into the training on a full-time basis is already paying off as he approaches full fitness just in time for the selection process.

"I am in full time training now at Roehampton in London," said Skinner.

"The whole GB squad is down there training full-time.

"It's hard work, but nice to be back into it. I am able to keep up with the younger guys, but I could probably do with more recovery time than they need.

"Being injured last year has caused me to be dropped down the list a little. There are 14 of us in the GB Squad, but only 11 will be selected.

"We find out in June whether or not we have been lucky, but the selectors will know by the end of March who is going and who will be a reserve.

"So if you think about it I only have about eight weeks to impress the selectors and ensure my inclusion in the Games."

The 42-year-old Lincoln photographer first suffered his debilitating injury following a motorcycle accident in 1991.

But it was an incredible 15 years later, in 2006, before he had his left leg amputated above the knee.

"It was a horrific accident and really it left my leg as a dead weight. I had no control over my lower leg or foot," he said.

"However, the NHS would not amputate because, for a long time, they said there was nothing wrong with the leg.

"But I suffered an infection in 2006 and they then agreed to amputate."

Skinner has little time to concentrate on his photography business while in full-time training, which means he fights a constant battle to find funding for his Paralympic bid.

"At 42, I am a little too old to get funding and because of my injury keeping me out of the sort last year and I am unable to receive any financial help from the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership," added Skinner.

"I am sending out letters all the time to companies asking for sponsorship and offering a volleyball master class or something else in return for their help, but sometimes I don't even get a reply.

"Every time I go down to London it is another £70 in fuel and I have to find that money from somewhere."

Anyone who would like to sponsor Andrew is asked to contact him on 07525 939926.