Pacific Western Brewery (PWB) and PacificSport Northern BC recognized judo master Stefan Zwiers and biathlete Matt Neumann as Hometown Heroes, Friday.
Zwiers was presented with a check from partial proceeds from selected PWB products over the past year, and Matt Neumann was announced as the new Hometown Hero.
"This financial support will help me train in Montreal," said 20-year-old Zwiers, "It will cover some of my living expenses and some tournaments across the border."
Twenty-year-old Matt Neumann is a six-time Canadian Biathlete Champion and hopeful 2014 Olympian. He started racing with the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club when he was eight and still represents the club even though he trains mostly out of the Whistler Olympic Park.
He'll be presented with a check around this time next year. The additional funding will "relieve a lot of unnecessary pressure on me, so I can focus on my training," he said.
"(Zwiers and Neuman) are awesome role models for the community," said PacificSport Northern BC general manager, Kristen Harrott.
The Hometown Hero program was formed through a dynamic partnership between PWB and PacificSport Northern BC to help athletes realize their dreams.
See more in The Citizen.
