Please find below a message from Sarah Brown concerning an initiative to raise funds to help send British athletes to the World Orienteering Championships which start in Estonia on 30th June. 

My name is Sarah Brown and I am the mother of Ralph Street who is a member of the GB Orienteering squad and WOC 2017 Team.

 

I am launching a short fund-raising campaign to help the GB team get to World Championships in Estonia in July. I have become involved in this initiative as I want to ensure the team are able to give of their best by being well supported at the World Championships.

 

I firmly believe that success for the Team (a Bronze last week at the World Cup Sprint Relay, 4^th Place in the last 2 World Championship Forest Relays 2015/2016 and a 4^th in the Sprint Relay 2016) can help inspire, motivate and attract juniors who are the future of our sport.

 

There is a shortfall of about £6000 which the athletes are now trying to raise themselves. This shortfall is due to a severe reduction in external funding for the entire senior Performance and Development Programme.

 

The athletes have set up a 'my donate' page which is being managed by the Orienteering Foundation who have kindly agreed to collect the money on their behalf as it attracts gift aid, where applicable, can be anonymous, or not which might have advantages and in addition it can all be properly accounted for in end of year accounts so donors will get good feedback.

 

The link to the 'my donate' site is as follows:

 

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/fuelgbwoc

 

All of the team recognise they owe a lot to their clubs and region; to 'Meet The Team' please go to:

 

http://slow.org.uk/about/gb-woc-team-2017/

If you are willing to send the athletes a message of support that would be great and helps their motivation. To do this, write to: EliteO.FundingFocus@gmail.com

If orienteers, friends and family wish to donate to the athletes' fundraising efforts, (where by the way you  can also add a message of support), please go to:
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/fuelgbwoc

All donations welcome, (even the equivalent of a cup of coffee, a pint of beer or a greetings card multiplied several times over will make a huge difference).

If there is an opportunity for a club to run a special fund raising event (cake sale, car park donations, raffle, quiz or sponsored event), that would be brilliant and again boosts team morale, knowing they have support.

If, as time is short, you can't help at the moment but would like to stay in touch with the team and the team news, please let me know. (Sarah Brown EliteO.FundingFocus@gmail.com)

Please do respond to me and I am happy to provide more information and answer queries. 

Best wishes

Sarah Brown