Posted By JORDAN ERCIT, THE NUGGET
July 18th, 2009
The chance to score some extra cash could not have come at a better time for Dave Nighbor.
The 24-year-old North Baybred cross country skier, who is one of 28 athletes participating in the General Mills Aspiring Olympians program, received word in May during a trip home that he had lost his spot on the national development team and the funding that goes with it.
So now, in terms of cash, every little bit counts in order to help Nighbor reach his goal of qualifying for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Whatever comes from the General Mills thing is good, but it’s not going to be enough to cover team expenses and living,” Nighbor said from Canmore, Alta., where he now lives and trains.
I’ve tried to get some help with sponsors from North Bay, but really haven’t had much luck. So basically the way it goes now is I’m (getting monetary assistance) from myself and my parents (and family).”
General Mills announced this week it is increasing some of the financial commitments it will make to 28 Canadian athletes, including Nighbor, through the Aspiring Olympians campaign.
The cereal company recently launched a Gold Box Cheerios promotion, in which General Mills will contribute $5 toward to one athlete for each of the special boxes sold. The consumer must, however, log on to the Aspiring Olympians website and enter a special code to ensure the athlete of their choice receives the funding.
Other cereal boxes represent a $1 donation for one of the 28 athletes, up from 16 when General Mills first launched the program in March.
General Mills has guaranteed a minimum donation of $5,000 per athlete, but the public can supplement the donation to a maximum of $25,000.
As of Friday evening, Nighbor had received an additional $1,349 from purchases since March, including Mayor Vic Fedeli, who was one of the first to congratulate Nighbor on the website.
Still every little bit helps and anything that they (the public) can do is appreciated,” Nighbor said.
Despite the extra cash, the former North Bay Cross Country Ski Club member said he will have to go into debt to finance his training and living expenses, but added that it’s worth the chance to chase down a dream like the Olympics.
He said assistance from his family has been key so far and they came through in the clutch” when he found out his funding was cut.
When I found that all out, I was in North Bay and I was feeling pretty hopeless,” Nighbor said. The Olympics were so close and you kind of have to weigh it out and see if it’s worth it or not to go 15 or 20 grand in the hole.
It was really nice because they stepped up and they told me when I was there . . . they didn’t want me to be stressed out. I’ve been very independent since I moved out and it was a big thing for me to be independent, and it’s hard for me still to go back to them. But they were a life savers.”
However, Nighbor said he has put the national team cut behind him and is looking at things in a positive light before the cross country ski season begins in November.
He has been training with a new coach based in Quebec — Louis Bouchard, who Nighbor believes will be the next national team coach within a couple of years — and said his off-season workouts have produced better results so far compared to other years.
Last year it took me until August to start feeling really good and fit,” he said. This one, I’ve been trying to get fit for the last three, four weeks, and it’s nothing that I won’t be able to hold for the rest of the year.
Sometimes it’s worrisome if you get in too good of shape in the summer, but I’ve been in the weight room a lot . . . I know, doing intensities and running work, stuff like that, I’ve been getting some of my fastest times ever.”
http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1662202
