Chris Olwage is grateful and relieved. A gay-run company has stepped in with sponsorship cash to ensure Mr Gay New Zealand Chris Olwage can get to Antwerp to compete in Mr Gay World. "Chris is a very talented individual who is very passionate in what he's doing,” Tom Linn from Wireless Nation says. "Wireless Nation as a multicultural, diverse and innovative ultra-fast broadband internet provider, which is run daily by people who are very passionate in what they are doing, is very proud to get a chance to support Chris to compete with the rest of the world in M Gay World 2013. We wish him all the best and look forward to working with him in the future." Olwage says it’s hard to put his gratitude into words. “I mean, two weeks ago I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out ways I could raise the money. “I had been hit left, right, and centre with ideas and suggestions but some were too hard to put together with such a limited time and not a lot of help. The Pledge Me idea, while a good one, was proving to raise more Facebook 'likes' than actual pledges and I was growing ever more despondent over the 'all or nothing' rule of the medium.” Olwage says not only is the company’s sponsorship a huge financial and organisational relief, but also a sort of cathartic experience. “I felt lighter, freer and humbled … I cannot describe in words the thanks I have for Tom and his team at Wireless Nation. I am so grateful to have now been given the opportunity to represent New Zealand at Mr Gay World, and to compete on an International stage amongst the huge array of International delegates. “It is a great honour to have received and now to be able to do... I hope I bring Pride to NZ whilst representing our Aotearoa.” Meanwhile voting is open for the Mr Gay World people’s choice award, click here to support Olwage.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 19th June 2013 - 11:10am