Five Cochrane Water Ninjas are forming almost half of Canada's junior lifesaving sports team heading to the Orange Cup in the Netherlands in December.
Jack Dunse, Alana Martens, Danica Fisher, Caebri Smith, and Aaron Swedlo were five of the 12 Canadians recently named to the elite team during the national championship in Victoria, B.C.
However, the honour of representing the nation comes at a great personal cost. Each athlete and their family are responsible for footing their bill.
Cochrane Home Treasures, Cochrane's nonprofit community and family thrift store, is providing $1,000 to each athlete through a new program that supports youth groups in exchange for volunteering in the community.
"It's getting the youth involved in volunteerism and understanding that it's very important to give back to the community," explains Cayley Breeze, Home Treasures manager. "We're very happy to develop that program and to help youth in sports and youth groups through that program."
The athletes will be assisting with two important Helping Hands programs in exchange for the funds.
Yolanda Martens, Alana's mom, also praises the Home Treasures program.
"That was a good match for us, so we are doing a food drive on Sept. 21, and then we'll do the Snow Angel program for the whole winter to give back to the community in thanks to Home Treasures.
"We are so appreciative and thankful to the community and Home Treasures for helping us to get this group to the Netherlands."
"It's great to see the community supporting us," says Alana. "It will be in the backs of our heads when we're there that they helped us get to where we want to go."
"We're all very excited to represent Cochrane and Spray Lakes the community," says Danica, who's in her seventh year with the club.
Caebri Smith is thrilled to have a shot at international competition.
"It means a lot because I was the alternate for Worlds, so this gives me the chance to compete at a big international competition. It's super exciting."
Jack Dunse and Aaron Swedlo gained plenty of international experience last season when they represented Canada at the Commonwealth Life Saving Championships.
Both are expecting this one to be even more competitive.
"We didn't have America at Commonwealth because they're not part of the Commonwealth, but now we probably will," says Jack. "We will probably have Russia there and any country that didn't go to Commonwealth can now be present, so that will make that competition just that much more elevated."
It hasn't fully sunk in yet for Aaron.
"I really can't believe it, when I stop to think about it," says Swedlo, "I don't consider myself as so fast and so awesome that I'm at the level where I compete there, but I guess I am, which is crazy to think about."
It's a heavy load for parents to send their children to international events like this, let alone budget to go along and cheer them on.
Kevin Dunse, Jack's dad, says his son has been competing at a high level for years and is already eyeing up the possibility of competing at the Commonwealth championship in England next year.
"As much as we want to support them, we also want to be over there, helping them out and cheering them on, so that costs extra as well. Team Canada handles the logistics, but then there's money as well, so this goes a long way to fulfilling that."
He says it gives the kids an opportunity to see parts of the world they may not otherwise see.
"It's great on a resume, it gives them a lot of responsibility, a lot of experiences that they can look back on and then claw back when they need it getting a job and schooling. It helps all around."
"I'm so proud of them, not just my daughter but the whole team," says Deanna Fisher, Danika's mom. "I mean, if you look at them, they're just smiling. They spend so much time together and they are genuinely friends and genuinely supportive of each other. So, to see this many on the team be selected and going together, that's the icing on the cake. It's not just one person going, it's a big part of the team."
She appreciates how Home Treasures has structured the funding program.
"I think it's so important as a life lesson for them. To receive something as generous as this, that's the right thing to do, not even the necessary thing to do, is to give back to the community and give back to the organization that's helping you.
"For them to be able to give back to the community for what they're receiving, hopefully, it continues on their life, not just now, but that they realize the benefit of volunteering and giving back is a lifelong thing."
The Orange Cup is being hosted by Rotterdam from Dec. 1 to 8.