Bobsledders set out to raise funds

Hamilton fitness trainer Hayley Gilchrist is on a mission to raise $7000 to attend Winter Olympics qualification in Canada with the Team Kiwi Bobsled team.

Hamilton fitness trainer Hayley Gilchrist is one of four people who have been selected for Team Kiwi Bobsled - a women's development squad for New Zealand Bobsled.

This March, the whole Waikato-based squad needs to go to Whistler in Canada before the ice melts, where they will undergo a 10-day intensive bobsleigh training course led by top experienced coaches.

But each of the women selected need to raise $7000 each for the trip before then can head on their way.

Gilchrist said they are frantically trying to come up with ideas of how to fundraise.

"The next Winter Olympics will be in 2018, so we have to train for that this year," said Gilchrist.

"Then we've got the North American circuit which is the Olympic qualifying circuit where you get points for your rankings."

The team hopes they will be able to secure enough points in the qualifiers to be able to enter the Olympics. If they don't manage that, they will have to set their sights on 2022.

At the training camps, they will learn how to drive and control the bobsled, before returning to New Zealand for intensive strength and speed training, and finally going back to Canada for the circuit tour.

Although all of the members will need to do some fundraising, Gilchrist said she was at a disadvantage.

"I've just bought a whole lot of testing equipment because I'm a strength and conditioner and I work for Graeme Mead at YMCA Hamilton as one of the fitness trainers, so as part of that I've been trying to build up my business with sports performance testing," she said.

"Then a week after that I purchased some nice $6500 timing lights to use, and I've got this whole thing that I'm supposed to be raising money for, so that was bad timing for my money."

Gilchrist has started three fundraising projects to get her over this first hurdle.

She will be taking donations in return for branding space on the team supporter jackets.

Donation suggestions will differ depending on the location on the jacket that the supporting business wants to place their logo.

There will be a Cool Runnings fundraiser boot camp at YMCA Hamilton starting February 14, delivered by Gilchrist.

She is a highly qualified and experienced strength and conditioning trainer.

Two sessions per week for six weeks will cost $240 per person.

A third fundraising idea is a $2 per minute 24-hour cycle challenge at the YMCA.

Donations will be taken of $2 per minute, with the target being a 24-hour challenge. The date is yet to be confirmed.