While cyclocross is growing rapidly in the U.S. and Canada, riders in both countries have difficulty finding funding to compete at the highest level. Is the best hope to change this getting the sport in the Olympics? But in the meantime, funding is lacking and our Canuck friends are fund raising for the world championships too. See the press release below.
Oakville, ON. January 25, 2009 (Friends of Canadian Cyclo-cross Racers) The Canadian Cyclo-cross team is in Europe, making final preparations for the World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands on the Feb.1 weekend.
Wendy Simms(BC), Natasha Elliott(ON), Derrick St John(ON), Aaron Schooler(AB), Brian Robinson(AB), Andrew Thomas(SK), Kyle Fry(ON) and Pepper Harlton(AB) make up the team for what will be a tough race.
As the Canadian Cycling Association doesn’t provide any funding for the National Cyclo-Cross Team, riders must cover their own airfare, accommodations, meals, equipment expenses, team support and even their national team jerseys. We have seen the commitment that it has taken for these riders to qualify and compete on the world stage. We are hoping that we can help them along by taking some of the financial burden off of their shoulders, allowing them to focus on putting in a strong performance, representing Canada at the Cross Worlds.
We’re hoping that you will join us in supporting these riders by dropping a donation off via Paypal, via our website – http://www.cyclocrossontario/fccr or contact us to find any other way to pass along a payment. Funds raised at a race in Toronto in December have made a large part of the funds so far, but we are aiming to raise over $4,000 for team. As in previous years, the CCA will provide a tax receipt with it’s yearly mailings, done at the beginning of next year. (Those who contributed last year should receive their 2008 tax receipts shortly.)
For more information on the Friends of Canadian Cyclo-cross Racers, email [email protected] or visit our website http://www.cyclocrossontario.com/fccr
Thanks,
Rod Olliver for Friends of Canadian Cyclo-cross Racers
