Support is mounting for Williams Lake’s Kayla Moleschi as she prepares to live out her dream at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
The Canadian women’s rugby sevens player was officially announced to the team just last Friday and will look to bring home a gold medal for Canada.
Back home in the lakecity, the community is rallying and looking for ways to help the Olympian.
“She’s been doing this for a long time and they don’t receive a lot of funding from Canada’s national sport association,” said Sylvia Rashbrooke, the owner at All-Ways Travel. “I think she’s brought herself to a new level by being selected on the rugby team and, of course, we want to go and show our appreciation of what she’s done and let people get excited about the whole thing.
“She deserves it, and I can hardly wait until Aug. 6 to watch her.”
All-Ways Travel, along with high school rugby coach and city councillor Jason Ryll, have setup an account at TD Canada Trust where funds can be donated to help Moleschi in her travels.
Also, on July 23, there will be a fundraising barbecue hosted by Dale Taylor and Brenda Taylor of Taylor Made Cakes and Sweets from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. where they’ll be serving up hot dogs, burgers, chips, pop and water in the business’s parking lot on Oliver Street.
Additionally, there will be a prize draw for two return flights from Williams Lake to Vancouver courtesy of Pacific Coastal.
“We want everybody to be proud of Kayla,” Rashbrooke said. “Her whole family is going, so it’s going to be wonderful, and we want everyone to be aware this is happening for Kayla.
“She deserves our community support and that’s the least we can do.”