Lowri Davies

The location of the 2008 European Freestyle Championships to be held this July? was recently confirmed as being Ourense in? Spain. This year I am the defending champion, so the pressure is on!

Preparations have begun: training is underway, flights are being booked and sponsorship is being sought. Here’s an article from the Cambrian News, published today to try and get some sponsorship from within my University town of Aberystwyth.

Why do I need sponsorship?
Freestyle kayaking? is a? fast, dynamic,? challenging? and photogenic? sport? yet even at the top of our game? we get very little funding and support to represent our country. Even the major kayaking brands generally only support their “Team Athletes” with free or discounted kit rather than funds towards these events (unless you are from America or Canada, where athletes are on at least partial salaries – hardly a fair competition?!). People assume that the GB Team get grants from UK Sport, the BCU, the? lottery or councils; or that our kit sponsors? individually? foot all the bills. Unfortunately not. Every year it is a balancing act to get enough training in (which? at this? level should include a couple of trips abroad to train on bigger volume rivers? not available in the? UK? such as the White Nile in Uganda or the Ottawa in Canada)? and work to earn the money to live and? get us to these events – in my case I also have to juggle this? with? my studies.

I estimate that training and competing at this level costs me over £4000 a year? – and that’s not counting a lot of my kayaking trips which I consider to be “purely recreational”. That is a lot of money to find as a full time student.

How can you help?
There are many ways in which you could help:

1. Sponsor me – whether you are a business or an individual, donations of any size are very much appreciated. I realise that sponsorship is a two-way street and would expect to do something in return if the donation was sufficient.? Ways in which? sponsoring me? could benefit you / your business include (but not? limited to): photos for use in promotional material, giving presentations / inspirational talks, promoting your company through the varying media I frequent (includes TV – SkySports down to local news, magazines, promotional posters, newspapers, radio interviews etc)
2. Let me know of any relevant? grants - there are many grants around that are not? in the public domain or barely known about. Despite thorough investigations and many applications,? the only grant I have attained so far is £150 from Ceredigion County Council. That will? cover a one-way flight to the? European Championships? with my kayak and other vital equipment. It is not even enough for the flight back.
3. Would? the company you work for sponsor me? – you may not have the power to release the funds, but you are probably able to contact the person who does. Please send me their contact details and/or speak to them directly about me. Knowing who to contact is a great start!
4. Do you know anyone else who might be able to help? – Please put me in contact with them if you do!

If you would like to donate
I have a paypal account under lod3@aber.ac.uk. Otherwise, please get in touch using that email address, or the one in the ‘Contact Me’ section.

I would like to thank my current kit sponsors Palm Equipment and Square Rock for their continuing support. A massive thank you also to the GB Team management? who put in a lot of time on a volunteer basis.