Facing large personal cost to attend Worlds, donations sought

At the age of 20, Katie Clark of Cranbrook has rowed her way on to the U23 National Team, representing Canada at the U23 Worlds being held in Sarasota/Bradenton Florida, July 24-28.

Katie had a strong showing at Rowing Canada’s Speed Orders regatta, coming second overall against senior athletes. Katie will be rowing with Yara Ensminger from University of Western Ontario in the Women’s Double Sculls event. Along with the rest of the U23 team the athletes have been training on Elk Lake in Victoria (pictured above), to prepare for taking on the world’s top rowers.

Katie started her racing career in skiing but after being sidelined by an injury she took on rowing full force.

She went to the BC Summer Games in 2014 having just learned how to row that spring, but her determination showed she had what it takes to love this sport. Katie just finished her second year at UBC, and last November took home the Canadian University Women’s overall team banner.

East Kootenay community, as you may know, amateur athletes do not get a lot of funding to travel to represent Canada on the world stage.

As Katie’s former coach I am asking you to consider donating to the NextGen Program that Rowing Canada oversees in order to support Katie and her team mates as they race head to head with rowers from 51 other nations at the U23 World Championships.

There are many options for the amount you wish to donate and you can send a message to the athlete, so please put Katie’s name in and send her well wishes.

Submitted by Roberta Rodger/Trish Clark

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