The trip of a lifetime is just 18 days and a few hundred dollars away for local BMX rider Amy Martin.
Having begun riding 18 months ago, the 15-year-old is ranked No1 in the country for her age group, but had to raise $8000 to represent New Zealand at the BMX World Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, next month.
With help from family friends, local business and generous strangers that target has almost been reached, mum Jodie Martin told Hawke's Bay Today.
"We are almost there ... I am just blown away by all the people who have helped," she said.
Among those who made a donation to her fundraising pool were schools Miss Martin had been involved with, including Te Mata Primary and Iona College.