Speedskater helps raise $5,000 so her parents can watch her in Olympics
Life is sweet for Sugar Todd.
The speedskater, 23, sought help in raising money to make sure her parents could see her compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The goal: $5,000 for flights, hotel, and visas.
Todd placed the request on GoFundMe, a crowdsourcing site where people can share their stories and — hopefully — interest enough people to donate to their cause. Less than 24 hours later, she reached her goal and beyond. In the generous spirit of postholiday giving, some people asked to keep donating even after Todd reached her target and turned off the donate function.
Here's what she told her supporters:
My parents and I are genuinely touched by this gesture and your desire to support us has not gone unnoticed. However, we have decided to keep the donation page closed.
What would mean the world to us now is that you stick with me for another four years — because I am not done making mom and pops proud and you know we're going to have to ship them off to PyeongChang 2018. ; )
My parents and I thank you all from our entire hearts, and they promise to have plenty of fun in Sochi. Seriously, THANK YOU! I am so pumped to know so many remarkable people and that they all know even more remarkable people. You guys are wild.
For Todd, raising the money meant an opportunity to give back to her parents, Mike and Diane Todd, who helped her pursue her Olympic dream when she was a kid. Born in Nebraska, Todd persuaded her parents to move to Milwaukee when she was 9 so she could get the training she needed to be a speedskater. Diane made the move full-time while Mike, a firefighter in Omaha, made the 1,000-mile round trip every 10 days.
From Sugar Todd's post on GoFundMe:
At that age, I didn't fully appreciate the sacrifices they were making so their little girl could MAYBE one day go to the Olympics.
That "maybe" is now a "definitely." The Sochi Olympics begin Feb. 7.
Follow Mike Krumboltz on Twitter at @mikekrumboltz.
