Athletes get a boost in trust’s final fling

Two Nelson students are closer to achieving their sporting dreams thanks to funding from Sport Nelson Tasman Trust.

Weightlifter Stella Hampton and rower Kayla Baker, both 18, are the last two recipients of funding from the trust, which has lost its major funding source. They received $1500 and $5500, respectively, to cover their sporting expenses for their upcoming events.

Baker is travelling to the Czech Republic in August to compete at the 2018 World Rowing Junior Championships. Having worked since she was 16 to cover her rowing costs, she said receiving external funding and the trust’s support had taken the pressure off.

‘‘Honestly, it made the difference in whether I was actually going to be able to go.’’

Hampton has been selected to represent Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand at a training camp in Japan this September, in preparation for the 2020 Olympics.

Hampton said competitive sport could be expensive, and support provided by organisations like Sport Nelson Tasman Trust was vital for aspiring athletes.

‘‘There are pretty amazing talented athletes in Nelson, and it’s great they can get a helping hand.’’

After six years of allocating funding, Baker and Hampton are the last to receive funding from the trust. Established in 2012 by founder and trustee Michele Surcouf, its purpose was to promote sport and the benefits of physical wellbeing to the people of the region.

‘‘Our major source of funding had come from a private individual who no longer wished to continue donating to the trust. We’d hoped that over the years, other individuals and businesses might want to become involved, helping to boost the coffers, but that didn’t transpire,’’ she said.

The trust’s funding benefited almost 2500 people.