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ANTON'S STORY I am writing to you as a young man that won’t give up on my dream. I am 18 years old and have been a full time alpine racer with the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF) for 8 years. MBSEF is a big part of Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Being on the mountain is a life style for many of us and producing national and international quality athletes brings recognition to our region of the country. Over the years I have received financial help from many individuals and businesses. With the economy struggling it is harder and harder for people to commit. I am writing to you with the hope that you can see the value in helping a young man that really loves the outdoors, the sport of skiing and the area in which we live. My love for the mountains started when I started skiing before I was two years old in my hometown of Aspen, Colorado. I can’t remember ever not skiing. My love for nature and the outdoors began at about the same time when I would follow my dad around as a crew member for the PBS TV series, Marty Stouffer’s WILD AMERICA. This June I graduated from Summit High with a 3.4+ GPA. While my friends are off to college I have decided to work and train for a year to see if I can improve my national standings. I could probably race at a Division 1 college, but unfortunately these schools offer only a few scholarships and those are taken by ex world cup racers from Europe. I need the financial help to go to college am hoping I can better my national/international rankings and get a better chance to receive financial assistance or a scholarship while skiing in college We moved to Bend from Colorado in 2000 when it was discovered that my brother Jesper had a rare heart/lung condition and could no longer live at such high elevation. Though Jesper is doing pretty darn good (he has turned from being a great ski racer to becoming a great rock climber) his illness requires lots of doctor’s visits and medicines. My parents, who are divorced, help me as much as they can but because of our situation, much of what it costs for me to race comes from scholarships, other family members, some really kind people in Central Oregon and from my own hard work. We have to pick and choose the races I go to and I don’t get to go to as many of the races that my peers do. Just like in life, in ski racing there are ups and downs… and I have had my share. I have stood on the podium at national races and suffered injuries that have set me back. I am finally healthy and stronger than ever. I think I will always be involved in skiing and ski racing. I really hope I can keep racing through college, have a shot at the US Team and then help younger kids that love this sport as much as I do. I don’t think you get burned out when you love doing what you do. Over the last 2 years Olympic Champion Phil Mahre has traveled and raced with us while he is trying to make a comeback to the US Team at age 50. He would talk to us at team meetings and to see the passion that he has for the sport (at 50 yrs old) is amazing. Not including equipment I will need to raise nearly $20,000 this year to compete in about 12-15 races. My club (MBSEF) has had to cut back on the support for their elite athletes and that makes it even more important that I find my own help from people like you. Everything I earn goes to my skiing. I recently went to Chile to train and race and I paid for 100% of it myself (nearly $4,000). I am currently the highest ranked male in the Pacific Northwest Region that is not on the US Ski Team (we have 5 guys on the US Team from the Northwest). Giving up on my dream is not an option! I am already bigger and stronger than I have ever been and like some of my older teammates at MBSEF who are on the US Ski Team (Kevin Francis, Laurenne Ross & Tommy Ford) I think I still have what it takes to succeed and represent Bend at the national and international levels of ski racing. In order to do this, I am asking for your help. And if you know others who would be interested in sharing in my dream, please give them my name. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Your Friend, Anton Hilts
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