Bega sprinter Lawrence Davis, 14, has qualified for three events at the national athletics championships, but he needs your help to get there.
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Lawrence won gold medals recently in the 100m and 200m sprints and the long jump at the ACT Athletics Championships to qualify.
However, the nationals will be held in Perth this year and the family is staring down an immense cost in travel alone.
A Gofundme page has been set up, while the family will also run a raffle in the hopes of raising enough money to cover costs of getting Lawrence to the week-long competition.
Proud mum Melinda Cleaver said she had ultimate faith in Lawrence’s ability as her son has stepped up his training.
“Now he trains five days a week and pushes himself really hard,” Ms Cleaver said.
“He’s gotten very professional with his running, he knows how to work the blocks and sets everything up himself.”
Lawrence one day hopes to be an Olympian and he is well on his way. You can’t truly appreciate his speed until you know that Lawrence can cover 100m in 11.37 seconds, only 2 seconds slower than Usain Bolt’s world record.
As a developing teenager he can also cross 200m in 23.10 seconds, a personal best he set in Canberra at the state event.
With that speed behind him he also clears six metres in the long jump.
There’s no pre-race ritual for Lawrence, no self-motivating talk or odd stretching routine, just a couple of relaxing songs on his iPod to calm the nerves before the event.
“He just kind of listens to music, and then when it comes time to race he goes out and smashes it,” Ms Cleaver said with a laugh.
Regularly competing at regional and state events also means Lawrence has made new mates across the country, it’s one of his favourite parts of competing.
“He loves the social side of it and getting to see all his friends,” Ms Cleaver said.
Meanwhile, his unwavering natural talent has also seen the Bega teen chosen for a number of highly specialised training camps.
A particular highlight was a three-day camp last year where Lawrence got to learn some key tips off Australia’s top female sprinter Melissa Breen.
Breen made the trip to compete in the Merimbula Gift sprint recently and was almost upstaged by her pupil as Lawrence passed her in a sprint heat.
In an effort to see Lawrence attend the nationals, a number of local businesses have donated items with the family to raffle off three packs. The top prize is an “automotive pack” and has a value over $500.
Tickets for the raffle will be available through the High School and the family is looking at selling tickets in the Woolworths complex. Direct donations to help with costs are also welcome at www.gofundme.com/7qx2zjmc.
