LAKEWOOD — Amber Nash knows something about hurdles.
A Deaf Olympian, Nash participated in the 2005 Deaf Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, bringing home the silver in the 400-meter hurdles.
Nash is now facing a new set of hurdles as she makes her way to Taipei, Taiwan for the Deaf Olympics in 2009 — this time in the form of cold, hard cash.
Nash has been visiting local businesses asking for sponsorship as she prepares to break two Deaf Olympic world records. When asked what’s harder, jumping multiple hurdles on a track at breakneck speeds or asking for sponsorship, it’s no contest.
“It’s tougher to ask than to try to beat your own time,” Nash said. “It’s tough doing all of this on my own.”
Nash, 23, who has been legally deaf since birth, has had her eye on two world records at the 2009 Deaf Olympics: the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles. Her training takes up most of her afternoons as she spends two hours running and another hour lifting weights, not to mention juggling classes at Everett Community College and two part-time jobs.
Work with her coach, who lives in Arizona, is mostly done via e-mail.
Despite the current economic climate, Nash said that businesses have been supportive. So far she has raised $2,500 of her $4,500 goal.
Midge Nash is proud of her athlete daughter, and missing only three meets out of more than a hundred during Amber Nash’s career. Her daughter has even inspired her to take up running as well — including a marathon in Arizona.
“Amber’s meets are exciting. I run now because she runs, though I run for distance,” Midge Nash said.
Amber Nash hopes that she’ll be able to compete in Taipei and future Deaf Olympics.
“I plan on competing until my legs can’t move anymore,” she said.
Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.
How to help
Those interested in helping sponsor Amber Nash should call 360-652-5454 for more information.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
