A group of Christchurch students trying to raise around $175,000 to get to Europe for a dragon boating regatta have been training in the dark and in sub-zero conditions.
Four times a week the Shirley Boys High School students have been dragging their dragon boat to the water, sometimes even before dawn.
“We’ve had minus four,” says Shirley Coach Russell Stocks.
“And the water lapping over was freezing on top of the boat. Really, really cold.”
Each session the students are paddling up to 12 kms as they prepare for the World Dragon Boat Championships in the Czech Republic next month.
“Just the fact that 20 people turn up at 6.30 in the morning shows we are serious about what we do,” says dragon-boater Glenn Dickie.
The team qualified for Prague after winning the National Championships.
They have now qualified six of the last seven years.
But making it happen on the water is only part of the struggle.
“At times I think we’re doing more fundraising than training,” says Mr Dickie.
They have to find approximately $5,000 each – that is $175,000 in total.
Some of the parents have to remortgage and the kids are selling their cars.
“Most of the boys have not been out of the country yet,” says Shirley Captain Jaden Frunt.
“So it’s a big attraction, and representing New Zealand is a great honour.”
Parents are not only involved in the fundraising, but also feed the group of 15 to 17-year-olds after each training.
They think they will be the only ‘all school’ team there – a top three finish in the Juniors competitions would make the early starts, and the hours of fundraising, well worthwhile.
3 News