ADAM JACKSON/Ponoka News
An aspiring wrestler and her family won’t let an Olympic-sized dream go to waste.
Sixteen-year-old competitive wrestler Kelsey Raab has received monetary donations from Ponoka Ford, Ponoka County and Servus Credit Union in Ponoka, as well as a few items of swag from Ponoka County and Servus Credit Union.
The donations received will help Raab out in many ways, including paying for pricey training camps and traveling across Canada.
She has won 11 wrestling medals so far this season and has qualified for the Canadian National Wrestling team, which means she will be going to the Pan American Games in Mexico in August.
Her mother Brenda Raab, alongside her father Rick, has been working closely with Kelsey to help her raise funds. Although they are appreciative of the donations received already by people in the town, the family is short around $4,000 for the upcoming training camps and tournaments.
Although the sport of wrestling has been expensive for the family, Mrs. Raab says that Kelsey’s work ethic and marks at school are what drives her to keep supporting her child through her dream.
“She’s a great kid, she’s on honour roll at school, she has a job and she works really hard.”
Although wresting usually isn’t seen as an expensive sport, training competitively is costly.
The Canada Cup, which takes place in Guelph, Ont. will cost the family about $1,200 to pay for airfare, lodging, food and the competition itself.
With the $4,000 left to raise, the family will host a barbecue funded by ATB later on in the month in an attempt to match their goal.
Overall the Raabs have been very happy with the numerous donations from companies in the area, including Rippin’ Ronnies, which donated two years of gym membership to the young wrestler.