Gay Skater Raises Money for Olympic Bid

New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup doesn't have funding for his Olympic bid from the normal places, so a charity is raising money on his behalf.

The Gay Auckland Business Association heard an appeal for help from Skjellerup, who is gay, during its June meeting and decided to launch a fundraising campaign through its charitable trust. GABA also plans to lobby SPARC, New Zealand's government source for funds, for an explanation for why it doesn't fund speed skating.

"It's a minority sport so it's understandable," Skjellerup told attendees at the GABA meeting, according to GayNZ.com. "It's just not the greatest, ideal situation for me."

Skjellerup came out publicly in a magazine interview after the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and has been a vocal advocate for gay youth. He's skated in eight world championships, and he said his sights are set on winning gold during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

For more information on the fundraising campaign, visit its "Give A Little" page.