SMALL TOWN GIRL, BIG TIME DREAMS
I want to share with you, briefly, my story and how I got to this amazing opportunity to become a USA Bobsled Athlete, and why I need your help.
ABOUT ME:
First off, for those who do not know me, my name is Venessa D'Arpino, I was born and raised in the small town of Grants Pass, Oregon, and I am beyond proud of that. The support from the town, my family and my friends are a huge part of my success.
I graduated from North Valley High School in 2014, with academic honors, along side my sports success within the soccer and track& field programs. Just briefly (a few fun facts), I am the North Valley high school record holder, and the 4A Oregon State record holder for the 200 and 400 meter dash, as well as 2013 recognized Oregon Athlete of the Year. Moreover following that small success I was hungry for more and through the recruitment process I continued my journey at Oregon State University; however, I was not truly a Beaver at heart and decided to transfer my sophomore year, to the University Of Oregon (Go Ducks!)
University Of Oregon
Competing for the D1 Track and field program, such as Oregon, was such an honor.
I was grateful to be a PAC-12 individual and team top finisher in the sprints.
An NCAA Indoor All American, winning an NCAA indoor Champion in 2017 on the DMR.
As well as a 4x NCAA outdoorAll American in the 4X1, 400, and 4x4meter relays.
But academics stayed important for me, and I graduated with a focus in Crime and Law, working hard to earn an NCAA All Academic honor, while graduating with a 3.6 GPA.
In the 2018/2019 season I competed in the USA track and Field meet in Des moines Iowa, where I placed 10th in the 400 meter dash. In fear of my journey of elite sports coming to an end, and not quite sure where my life was going next, I was blessed by a phone call from the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Coach that recruited me August 2019 for a rookie bobsled camp in Lake Placid, NY. What I didn't know was me accepting this opportunity would change my life in ways I never saw coming. Following rookie camp, where I placed 2nd, I was invited back to Push Championships, competing well enough to continue the journey I am on now, falling in love with the sport and competing in my first Monobob Race here in Lake Placid, NY November, 2019. 
USA BOBSLED AND SKELTION
Many of you may only know the sport of bobsled exists every four years when it is one of the coolest events to watch when televised during winter olympics, while others may know the sport due to the great movie, Cool Runnings. Either way, you need to know that it is the big sled that drives across an ice track at insane speeds and there are actually full seasons EVERY winter!!!! So thankfully enough, I am insane enough, and blessed, to be able to learn and compete for the Team of United States Of America starting this Winter of 2019. 
SO WHY DO I NEED FUNDING?
Although the sport is considered a US Olympic Sport, it is not governmentally funded, leaving a lot of extra fees falling on the athletes, especially during my rookie season. That being said a lot of expenses I will now be responsible for, such as my own flights, housing when we travel, ice spikes, burn vests and even as I get more invested parts of my sled will be my responsibility and cost thousands. Its the sad reality of the sport, but I am not ready to give up pursuing my dreams due to money. I know that money will come and go in my life but opportunities like this don't come along very often nor for everyone. So as much as I hate asking for help, I need the support of friends, family and even strangers on this one, to continue chasing my dreams as a professional athlete. Even if you can't donate, please share!
P.S, most and if not ALL my focus will go towards the sport, but when I am home I will work as much as possible, I do not like asking for help, but I can't do this alone, and while on the road during travel I would love to find an online part time job, so even words of advice or help finding an online carrier etc. is helpful.
Feel free to hear more about my story and reach out via Facebook, or Instagram @venessa_darpino
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING