A small group of Portia Woodman's whanau will travel to Rio next week to cheer on the Kaikohe-born girl as she strives to help the New Zealand women's sevens team produce a gold medal-winning performance at the Olympics.
The group includes her Mid North born-and-bred parents Kawhena and Babe Woodman (originally from Ohaeawai, now resident in Auckland) along with her uncle and aunt, Richard and Belinda, who still live in the area. Also in the touring party are Roger and Charmen Dalton (Babe's brother and his wife) and Patsy Davidson (Babe's sister).
Richard, a stalwart supporter of the Taiamai Ohaeawai RFC, said all the boxes were ticked and the group were looking forward to departing this coming Tuesday and returning on August 14, having purchased a supporter's package made available to athletes' families through the New Zealand Olympics team.
"Travel insurance, vaccines done and mosquito repellent sorted," he said.
With the New Zealand women's team's first match against Kenya at 2.30am on Sunday, August 7 (NZ time), Woodman said she was very excited about making her Olympics debut and featuring in a record 11-strong Northland contingent, which includes three Paralympians.