Australia is proud of its sporting history but getting the young prodiges to the national levels comes at a cost often not considered outside their families.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
James Sheahan Catholic High School student Cambell Williams has been selected to represent the country at the World Junior Motorcross Championships in July.
Selected by Motorcycling Australia, the 14-year-old will be required to travel to Italy for three weeks in which his family will foot the bill for bike rental, as well as flights and accommodation for Cambell and his dad.
His father, Gavin Williams and his racing brother Bailee Williams both accompany Cambell on his interstate races every second weekend.
When your child's quiet talented at something you just give it your all
- Jacqueline Williams
Mr Williams has converted a van so the boys can hall themselves and four motorbikes up to nine hours to Queensland, South Australia and Victoria and back from Friday to Sunday.
His mum, Jacqueline Williams said the interstate trips alone come at a 'massive expense' which has been 'very stressful' for the family.
"When your child's quiet talented at something you just give it your all," she said.
Mrs Williams said because other families on the interstate circuit can afford to upgrade their bikes each year, it means her and her husband have to keep up.
She said a new motorbike costs them up to $12,000, which for a builder and a recently redundant Cumulus Wines admin worker, means the pressure is on.
In their bid to get their boy overseas, the family has turned to the ever-increasing trend of crowdfunding.
Alongside 1600 Australian athletes, Cambell has joined The Australian Sports Foundation's fundraising initiative created to get Aussie children to their events.
Cambell said while he competed in the same event in Melbourne last year, the Italy trip has "a bit more hype."
He said he loves his parents for what they've done which he said was "all it takes".
"It costs mum and dad a lot of money so I'd really like to achieve the [fundraising] goal and help out," he said.
"It'll be a significant opportunity to do something I love."
Mrs Williams said with "the top teams watching him" with a little luck he could compete with one by the end of the year - hopefully with sponsorship to follow.