Let’s go fly a kite
Help young wave- rider Cameron hit the rollers
He’s a boy with a big dream to take to the waves for a career at sea.
Not as a sailor, submariner or fisherman, but as a kitesurfer.
Now Cameron Auld, still 15, has been accepted into the World Class Kiteboarding Academy in Oregon.
He is the first Scot ever to win a place at the wave school and could start in September.
The pupil at Marr College in Troon has been given a substantial scholarship to part fund the course.
Now his family are hoping the community can help raise another £ 15,000 for a year.
The course is so expensive as students travel across the globe to hit waves in Hawaii, Brazil and Spain.
Cameron, who has started his fifth year studies at Marr and lives on Dundonald Road, knows it is a tall order.
But he has already raised £ 3400 of that after just a few days on the Justgiving funding website.
And he said: “I would love to make the most of this amazing opportunity I have been given by the World Class Kiteboarding Academy.
“I feel i could go on to ride internationally which would open so many new doors for me. I also feel I would come back as a much better person.”
Cameron, who works part time in the Venice Cafe, started kitesurfing aged 11 off Troon as his elder brother James had taken it up.
Spurred on by his mum Elaine and dad Alan - a keen surfer himself - Cameron spends hours shreading the waves off Barassie or South Beach.
Elaine said: “He loves water and swam with the South Ayrshire Swim Team before competing in oppies at Prestwick Sailing Club.
“Last year Cameron competed in three rounds of the British Kitesurfing Championships and achieved 2nd British Junior.
“He has also been coached by Jo Wilson with the British youth team last year and will continue to be coached by Jo and compete in the championships this year.
“We are very grateful to the Academy for the bursary and are hopeful Cameron can achieve his target with the help of Ayrshire Post readers.”
* If you can help young Cameron go to the Just Giving website and type in Cameron Auld. You will see his campaign “Raising £ 15000 to help Fund my scholarship for the World Class Kiteboard Academy.