Aussie angel helping finance ‘mum’s’ trip to 2011 Sacto worlds

Here’s how important the WMA world meet is to some folks. They donate money to make dreams come true. W40 sprinter Michelle Stevenson will compete at 2011 Sacramento worlds, thanks to the generosity of a local Aussie businessman named George Flack. He pledged the money “after seeing the mother-of-six compete and reading her inspiring story in the Bendigo Advertiser’s Women in Sport pages.” Here’s the story about the donation. What a guy!

Michelle Stevenson is being sponsored for Sacto worlds by George Flack. (Photo by Chris McCormack)

Here’s the whole story, in case the link goes down (under):

Mum kicks up a gear in lead-up to world masters athletics championships
RAELEE TUCKERMAN
28 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

RUNNING mum Michelle Stevenson’s plans to compete at the world masters athletics championships in the US next year have moved into top gear after a local businessman stepped in to help sponsor her trip.

Financial planner and veteran athlete George Flack, from RetireInvest Bendigo, offered to pay Stevenson’s airfares after seeing the mother-of-six compete and reading her inspiring story in the Bendigo Advertiser’s Women in Sport pages.

Stevenson, 40, from Ladys Pass near Heathcote, has overcome depression and other health problems to emerge as a star of cross-country and track and field events in her first year of athletics since she was a teenager.

She has broken several local records and won medals at the Victorian masters and state country championships in events ranging from the 200m up to the 10km.

Her ultimate ambition was to run for Australia at the 2011 world masters titles in Sacramento, but she didn’t want that goal to be financially detrimental to her family.

Mr Flack said although he did not usually sponsor individual athletes, focusing instead on sporting teams or events, Stevenson’s dedication and determination made her an exception.

“I have seen her compete and do really well, particularly over the summer months, and she is someone who really puts in,’’ he said.

”You don’t achieve the results she has without having done a lot of hard work.

“And for someone to come back to athletics after having six children, that’s remarkable, and I’m sure there will be others out there who were inspired by her story.’’ Stevenson said she could not believe it when Mr Flack contacted her with his proposition the day her story appeared in the newspaper, and admitted to shedding a tear after she hung up the phone.

“He is helping make my dream come true,’’ the Bendigo YMCA Harriers club member said.

“It is going to save me a few thousand dollars – I was beginning to wonder whether I would be able to afford to go, but now I am definitely going to be there.

“It is just so generous.’’

While Mr Flack will cover the cost of Stevenson’s flights, Eaglehawk Cruise and Travel has also come to the party, offering to provide group booking benefits and discount travel insurance to other local athletes intending to go to Sacramento for the world masters event.

Mr Flack, who runs with the Eaglehawk YMCA athletics club, said it was a shame there were not many grants and funding opportunities available for older athletes competing at high-level sporting events.