The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sale of skis from accident will boost Olympic bid
Range of incentives for Charlie’s fans in crowdfunding drive
A top Scottish skier whose career nearly came to a crashing halt after a horrific training accident is selling off her broken skis to help reach her Olympic dream.
Charlie Guest, from Perth, landed on a boulder when she fell on slopes in Sweden in November, leaving her with four broken vertebrae.
The 20-year-old said that if it wasn’t for her coach insisting she wore a back protector, her skiing days would have been over.
Now Charlie is back on the slopes and will be heading off to New Zealand for a winter training session. Yesterday she launched a crowdfunding drive to help her on her way.
Among her money-raising pledges – which include shout-outs on social media in exchange for cash donations – she is selling off her skis from the accident.
For £350 fans can buy the skis, signed by Charlie, and a framed newspaper front page reporting on the crash.
She said: “To say they were one of a kind would be an understatement. I certainly hope never to have another set like them.
“The skis are no longer functional but for ski memorabilia collectors it would be a great long-term investment and I would be grateful of their support in helping me get to the next level.”
Charlie hopes her crowdfunding plan will help her reach the Olympics in Korea in 2018.
She is offering a range of incentives, from simple £15 donations that get you a shout-out on Facebook and Twitter, right up to a £5,000 sponsorship deal.
“To get to the top of any sport you have to dedicate yourself to the training, day and night,” she said. “I’ve been skiing since I was three years old and I know I can reach the summit.
“Over the last few months I’ve been working very hard to become stronger and I’m feeling ready to get back to business.
“If the accident taught me anything it’s that the impossible is absolutely possible. I just need to make it happen.
“Funding in sports is essential and I was buoyed by the public’s support immediately following the accident. I had get well wishes from people all around the world.
“I’m hoping the public can take some inspiration from my determination to succeed and get behind me.”