A Cambridge teenager is working to fund the trip of a lifetime; to go and play rugby with his team against stiff competition in the United Kingdom.
After nearly winning the rookie of the year award for the Preston High School rugby team, Lachlan Crocker has the opportunity to travel with the Waterloo County rugby team to England to play on the international stage.
The Cambridge athlete along with his team are now focused on their fundraising efforts to pay for the trip.
"I can't wait to go," said Crocker. "We're going to play three teams over March Break."
According to Lachlan's mother, Iona Bell-Crocker, the team has already raised over $2,000 for flights and accommodations for the matches in the UK from a bake sale, but there is still a long road ahead of the boys.
Crocker is starting his own bottle drive to help fund the trip as well as a GoFundme page to collect donations from those who cannot bring in bottles.
"The boys have been volunteering at different festivals and events to try and raise funds for their trip," said Bell-Crocker. "They're so excited to travel and have the experience of a lifetime."
The 15-year-old Cambridge athlete has been paying rugby for five years and knows this trip will allow him to take his game to the next level.
According to Bell-Crocker, her son is hoping to get a scholarship to a post secondary school and play rugby as a collegiate athlete.
While the trip isn't until this upcoming March, the team needs to book flight, hotels and make plans as soon as possible.
They have already volunteered at the Kitchener Multicultural Festival and Rib Fest to help clean up after the events to earn money.
"Any corporate sponsors, events looking for volunteers or anything we can do to help raise money we are looking at," said Bell-Crocker.
The Cambridge family has built a wooden drop-off bin outside of their home on Westminster Drive South in Preston to collect any bottles or cans the community can donate.
"This will be my first time out of the country so I'm a little nervous, but I know it's going to be fun," said Crocker.
The team can be reached at by email at [email protected].