Geoffrey Martinson needs some help as he runs towards his Olympic dream.
The Prince George born and raised middle-distance runner is returning to town Oct. 22 for a fundraiser to help support him as he trains for the Olympic Trials in Calgary next June to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.
"He wants to be able to train year round and he wants to be able to not have to worry about a job," said Martinson's mom Maureen.
The fundraiser will be held at Alfredo's Neighbourhood Pub (4182 15th Avenue) from 6 p.m. to closing. The cost for dinner, and to have a chance to chat with Geoffrey, is $25.
A silent auction is also on track for the evening with lots of "interesting and desirable items" to bid on. It's also karaoke night at the pub.
Maureen recalled how excited her son was when he took up running in Grade 8.
"He really liked it and said, 'I'm going to the Olympics,'" she said.
When Geoffrey received a track scholarship to the University of Victoria, Maureen said, she and husband Brian started to believe their son's dream could come true.
"Since university we've been saving pennies, because we thought, you know what, he probably can do it," said Maureen.
After five years of honing his running abilities at university, the 25 year old is now working on fulfilling his dream.
"Now he's just running and racing," said Maureen. "These days a jog, as he would call it, would be a half marathon for the rest of us."
The 1,500-metre runner trains at the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific in Victoria with coach Wynn Gmitroski. Geoffrey is the third ranked 1,500-metre runner in Canada and was a semi finalist at the 2011 IAAF World Championships. He's the seventh fastest all time 1,500-metre runner in the country.
Geoffrey's personal best times are: 1:48:97 in the 800-metre distance; 3:37:56 in the 1,500-metre distance; 4:01 for a mile; 8:04 for three kilometres and 13:43 for five kilometres.
The Olympic trials are in June 2012 in Calgary.
For tickets to the Oct. 22 fundraiser contact Brian or Maureen Martinson at 250-563-5696 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].
