Winter is Coming, join my team!

The time has come where I need to ask for help. If you know me this is not something I am particularly comfortable doing but I got somewhat of a reality check this week...

To quote Game of Thrones "Winter is Coming"

Winter for a skeleton athlete consists of roughly 12 weeks abroad training and/or competing. For me this means some serious time off work and a serious pay cut. Since starting the power2podium talent search back in April 2014 I have used every single day of annual leave towards skeleton. I have also taken unpaid leave. This has led to me being selected on to the British Skeleton Talent Programme and a realising a new dream; The Winter Olympics. So in other words totally worth it.

Anyway enough dreaming and thinking about 2018 and beyond! I've done the maths and due to the large amount time I will be away, right now I cannot afford to support myself financially over the next 12 months. The cost of being a development athlete is not so different to daily life; but the income isn't equivalent. I'll need to pay for facility use, travel costs, decent food, bills and rent. The nature of skeleton means any work I am able to do is temporary, contractual and intermittent; winter sports have their own unique challenges due to the environments needed to perform the sports. But I don't want to give up on this dream; the opportunity is too great and I'm in love with the sport. Moreover I believe I can win an Olympic medal.

So this blog is a warm up act for some serious fundraising that I am planning to embark on. I will need support (moral and financial) to be able to raise what I need so please when you see me banging on about skeleton, posting training shots or videos or asking people to share a page (yes I am going to crowdfund) please bear with me and share as widely as you're able. It will mean a lot to me; I have to make this work.

I have a lot to offer potential sponsors...here is a taster!

vBranding opportunity on race suit (subject to The BBSA approval)

vChoice of logo placement on helmet or suit (subject to The BBSA approval)

vBranding opportunity on Blog

vPossibility to use my services in order to promote your organisation/products/undertaking. This can be via event attendances, appearances, motivational talks, presentations to employees, team building days.

vPostcards and updates from training camps and competitions

vRecognition through all media opportunities where possible/appropriate

vRegular promotional and positive tweets and Facebook posts

vPositive relationship with and insight into the life of an elite athlete

I am hoping to get this going to time with the next training camp I have (24th August)- keep your eyes peeled people. And in the meantime if anyone has any tips please get in touch, I'd love to hear them!

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Working on this!