THE cost of sending athletes to compete at the annual Coca-Cola Games in Suva can be expensive especially for schools located in rural areas and outer islands.

But despite the exorbitant costs, schools have rallied behind athletes to raise the much needed funds needed to send them to the annual meet.

Votualevu High School in Nadi is one such school.

School vice principal Geeta Krishna said 22 athletes would compete at the games, all medal hopefuls.

“We had a student in Year Nine who participated in the Easter Games and he did really well so we made sure that we raised money for him and for the rest of the athletes to go to the games,” she said.

“This year we did not want to burden the athletes with costs so we raised the money through fundraisers and approaching sponsors.

“We managed to raise about $1752 for the trip and that includes transport, accommodation and food for the three days they’ll be there. It was a bit difficult but we wanted to participate and we did everything that we could to raise that money ourselves with the help of students and their supportive parents.”

Lautoka Muslim College sent a smaller contingent so the burden of raising funds was lighter.

Vice principal Navneet Mishra said only six athletes from the school were competing this year.

“We’ve always sent a very small team and they are the ones that did well at the zone meet,” he said.

Other schools from the Western Division sending big contingents are Jasper Williams High School and Natabua High School. Apart from fundraisers held within the school, the two squads relied on the financial support of former students and parents.