A new funding round through The Perago Trust opens on next Thursday, offering support to talented athletes and breathing new life into the Trust after a year’s hiatus due to Covid-19.
The Trust has invested almost $150,000 in assisting 50 young sportsmen and women over the past decade, many of whom have gone on to make a career in their chosen sport. Among its beneficiaries are Micah Wilkinson, who won a world title in sailing, cycling’s Commonwealth Games medallist Sam Gaze, and international cricketer Tim Siefert.
In 2012, Cambridge sporting personalities Jake Moreland and Kevin Burgess recognised the need for gifted young local athletes to receive extra assistance in funding and on-going support in their journey to achieving at national, and hopefully international, level in their chosen sport.
They formed The Perago Trust, selecting trustees for their expertise and experience in the areas of accounting, sports management, sporting achievement, business management, health and wellbeing.
With Sir Patrick Hogan as Patron, and Sarah Ulmer and Rob Waddell as ambassadors, the trustees have been well-supported by local and national sporting organisations, businesses and the wider community.
Trustee Merv Ebbett said that like many organisations, The Perago Trust had been forced into hibernation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Fortunately, supporters of the Trust have continued with their contributions. This allows us to call for funding applications from hard-working young local athletes who have kept up their training programmes throughout this unusual 12 months. The funding round opens on April 1.”
The criteria, set by the Trust, for athletes applying for assistance includes winning national titles, showing potential to excel at international level, demonstrating commitment to their sport with specific goals, and they should be considered as an athlete with potential by their national body.
Founder and trustee Jake Moreland said it was a relief to be able to resume after the hiatus caused by Covid-19.
“There are still young men and women incurring huge costs in their chosen sport, usually funded by the bank of mum and dad,” he said.
“With the new round of funding opening on April 1, we are calling for people to get their applications in.”
Jake said the Trust was usually inundated with funding applications. “In the event of that, we weight our selection to those athletes with a strong connection with Cambridge, principally because we get most of our support through local people.”
For more details go to www.peragotrust.org.nz.
