Canadian farmers continue to support amateur female athletes and help them achieve their goals

Through Fuelling Women Champions, Dairy Farmers of Canada announce 30 recipients for the expanded Champions Fund

OTTAWA, Oct. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Fuelling Women Champions announced the winners of the Champions Fund, an initiative by Canada's dairy farmers, which aims to break down financial barriers for amateur female athletes as they work at achieving their goals in sport. Expanded for its second year, the Fund is distributing 30 grants of $5,000 totaling $150,000 to help even more young female athletes pursue their sports dreams. This is in comparison to the $100,000 grant from 2016, distributed to 20 female athletes with incredible stories.

The Champions Fund was launched in 2016 and saw an impressive 2,537 applications from female athletes across Canada, who submitted stories detailing their love of sport and their need of financial assistance to achieve their goals—all within the context of addressing the inequalities Canadian female athletes face versus their male counterparts. Many applications told the stories of amazing athletes struggling to make their sports dreams a reality, including their need for the basics: equipment, tournament fees, and access to training facilities.

"Canadian dairy farmers are so very proud to be able to support our female amateur athletes again this year through the Champions Fund," said DFC's President, Pierre Lampron. "Hearing their incredible stories has been truly inspirational. I want to extend my best wishes to these athletes as they pursue their goals, and thank all of those who applied."

In its second year, the Champions Fund received more than 3,097 applications for grants from Canadian women across the nation. Grant recipients will use the grants for the betterment of themselves, their fellow teammates or communities as it pertains to sports. Recipients include:

• Track and field star, Larissa Brown from Ottawa, ON, who lost her vision in grade seven and who has been using sport as a means for hope. She currently holds five Canadian records and with the Fund, she will be able to cover her training costs to continue her path to success and inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
• Dragon boating team, Abreast in a Boat from Vancouver, BC, are all breast cancer survivors paddling to raise awareness for breast cancer and to demonstrate that survivors can still lead full, active lives. The Champions Fund will help the team offset the cost of regatta registration and equipment, so they can continue to do what they love and include other survivors on the team, to help with the emotional and physical healing that is needed after treatment.
• Sami Jo Small opened up a hockey school (Sami Jo Small Female Hockey School) in Winnipeg, MB where she invites any female athlete from a First Nation to attend the camp free of charge. The Fund will allow her to continue to support First Nation female athletes by offering them the ability to participate in sport, teaching them how to interact with others and learning about the principle of inclusion.

2017 Champions Fund Recipients

Name	Sport	Location
Abreast in a Boat	Dragon Boating	Vancouver, BC
Amanda Timm	Sit Skiing	Canmore, AB
Bethany Johnson	Wheelchair Basketball	Winnipeg, MB
Canadian Women's Field Hockey	Field Hockey	Vancouver, BC
Carly McDonald	Hockey	Forestburg, AB
Cindy Ouelette	Wheelchair Basketball	Quebec City, QC
Colleen Lynch	Speed Skating	Dundas, ON
Debora Barros	Swimming	Toronto, ON
Eagle Point Judo Club	Judo	Stephenville Crossing, NL
Emma Bedard	Cycling	Westmount, QC
Equal Play Girls' World Cup Soccer Leadership Pgm	Soccer	Vancouver, BC
Fab Girls 5 KM Challenge Programs	Running	Hamilton, ON
The London Sharks Volleyball Club	Volleyball	London, ON
Go Time!	Multi-Sport	Vancouver, BC
Hijabi Ballers	Multi-sport	Toronto, ON
Jennifer Barnes Van Elk	Multi-sport	Cobble Hill, BC
Kahnawake Survival School Wrestling	Wrestling	Kahnawake, QC
Kelsie Cygan, Team Warburg, Warburg Curling Club	Curling	Warburg, AB
Kugluktuk Grizzlies U13 Soccer Team	Soccer	Kugluktuk, NT
Larissa Brown, Ottawa Lions T-12 Para Track & Field	Track and Field	Ottawa, ON
Lucy Black	Rowing	Fredericton, NB
Melanie Squire	Rugby	Scotland, ON
Michaela Cormier	Rugby	Calgary, AB
Nikkita Holder	Track and Field	Pickering, ON
Olivia Oliver	Figure Skating	Barrie, ON
Sage Matthews, Kimberly  Dynamiters Hockey Academy	Hockey	Meadow Creek, BC
Sami Jo Small Female Hockey School	Hockey	Winnipeg, MB
Unama'Ki Snowboarders	Snowboarding	Cape Breton, NS
Women's Sledge Hockey of Canada	Sledge Hockey	Edmonton, AB
The W.R.E.N.C.H	Biking	Winnipeg, MB

According to a 2016 study commissioned by Canada's dairy farmers, only 59 per cent of girls aged 3-17 and 16 per cent of adult women in Canada participate in sport. The Champions Fund, and the overarching initiative, Fuelling Women Champions, aims to inspire girls and women, regardless of age or ability, in local communities across Canada to realize the universal benefits of sport.

The top 78 applicants were selected based on a scorecard and the merits of their applications. Then, the Champions Fund Committee, a board of 10 individuals comprised of Fuelling Women Champions stakeholders, ambassadors and partners, have selected the 30 final grant recipients, who are being announced today.

For more information or to get involved in the initiative, visit www.womenchampions.ca. Follow and join the movement online to #ChampionHer.

About Fuelling Women Champions
Fuelling Women Champions is a national, multi-year initiative spearheaded by Canada's dairy farmers, which is dedicated to the advancement of women in sport. Canada's dairy farmers are personally committing their time, energy and resources to this cause, and have partnered with several thought-leaders, celebrated athletes, and sports organizations.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada
Founded in 1934, DFC is the national organization representing Canadian dairy farmers and striving to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working within supply management, DFC promotes, as part of a healthy diet, safe, high-quality, sustainable, and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy, and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community, pride, and a commitment to improve Canadians' health, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national initiatives.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada

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