Blake Skjellerup Gay Olympian Blake Skjellerup has signed up to take part in FebFast, which has selected Rainbow Youth as one of its beneficiaries this year. FebFast challenges people to give up alcohol for a month during February 2012, raising money via online sponsorship for charities working with young people affected by drug or alcohol issues. "This is a really cool event to be involved with," Skjellerup says. "Everyone does too much partying over Christmas and New Year so February is a good time to take a break, and look at getting some fitness back. Giving up alcohol can help with that, and it's also a chance to raise money for a worthwhile cause." Skjellerup, 26, competed for New Zealand at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and currently lives in Melbourne, where he's in training for the next Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014. He holds a number of New Zealand and Australian titles and records, has received a number of sporting awards and scholarships, and prides himself on being one of only a handful of openly-gay Olympic athletes. Maintaining fitness for a peak performance is a top priority, he says. "Going without alcohol definitely helps my performance and fitness. Alcohol does not give me the energy I need to perform and train through a hard session. "It's about having a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. I like to live by the everything-in-moderation motto. I like being able to have a fun night with friends without alcohol, and I enjoy being able to function the day after." He's encouraging people to take part in FebFast or to support him through his fundraising page on the FebFast website. Nearly a thousand people took part in the first FebFast in February 2011, which raised more than $100,000 for four alcohol and drug service organisations.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 17th January 2012 - 10:47am