Banner shows national support for Helema

National sailor and Manihiki ‘pearl’ Helema Williams will be carrying the weight of the nation on her shoulders when she, along with seven fellow Cook Islands athletes, represents the Cook Islands at the London Olympics at the end of the month.

Williams, who has been also nominated as the nation’s flag bearer for the opening and closing of the London Games, has been away from home comforts since early May in her final pursuit of Olympic selection.

While Team Cook Islands athletes and officials will be based at the Olympic Village in the heart of London, Williams will be based in Weymouth some four hours from the village.

So to bring the support of the nation to Williams’s room at Weymouth – a huge banner has been produced by Sailing Cook Islands for businesses and the public in general to sign.

”We’d like her to feel she is our champion rather than feel a weight of us riding on her shoulders – we want her to feel that she is riding on our shoulders and competes with joy and national pride which so motivates her!“ comments sailing manager Anne Tierney.

”Helema is working really hard at every bit of fitness she can harness for the big event and is very keen to improve our Cook Islands ranking which she achieved, gaining her a place at the Games!“

Businesses who wish to donate to Helema’s campaign can give Anne Tierney a call on 28243 or 54605 or call Rory Quirke on 54147 to have the banner brought to your business to sign your words of encouragement for our sailing sensation.

Tierney says that Helema will need the ‘shot of Kuki support’ that people sign on to the banner which will hang in the Cook Islands sailing rooms at Weymouth.

A special bank account has been opened up at BCI Bank for friends, family and businesses to make a donation towards Helema’s campaign.

Funds being raised now is to cover the extra costs of coach boats and coaching and those willing to help this young woman carry our nation with pride can make a donation into the special BCI account 80898.

”We want to continue to give Helema the best opportunities and she has been doing and is doing heaps of work towards this campaign.“