Team Aurora - Sponsorship Proposal

Introducing – Team Aurora

Team Aurora is an amateur cycling team whose members aim to raise the
profile of women in cycling. Named after the ancient Roman Goddess of
dawn, the team train early in the morning around Canberra. Specifically
Team Aurora aims to bridge the gap between recreational cycling and
racing, providing an atmosphere of challenging training, friendly
competition and team racing to women of varying ages and experiences.

In 2006 the Team participated in the Canberra

Cycling Club Team Time Trial, and individually
raced in the Scott 24 hour Mountain Bike Race,
the Tour-de-Femme and Brindabella Challenge
road races. Affiliated with the Canberra Cycling
Club, ACT Veteran’s Cycling and Canberra Off
Road Cyclists, members of Team Aurora are
planning on continuing to race at local ACT and
regional NSW events throughout 2007.

Our team members have achieved great individual success in their chosen
sports. Team Aurora has former Australian and State representatives (in
Mountain Biking and Triathlon), place winners in the 2005 Tour de Femme,
the winners of the women’s team of four in the Sri Chinmoy Multi Sport
race in 2006 amongst various individuals who were successful in Novice
and Age Group Triathlons.

Events for 2007

Along with two training rides a week, Team Aurora plan to enter riders into
the following events:
 • Canberra Cycling Summer Criterium Series – January to March 2007

• Sri Chinmoy Multi Sport in Jindabyne – March 2007

• Canberra Road Tour – April 2007

• ACT Veterans Winter Road Race Series – April to September 2007

• Kowalski Women’s Road Tour – June 2007

• The Scott 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race – October 2007

• The Tour de Femme – November 2007

• The Brindabella Challenge road race and criterium – December

2007

Sponsorship

In order to formalise the ‘look and feel’ of the team, we are seeking
financial support to help purchase team uniforms for members. The
uniforms will provide a visible profile for the team during training and
competition, and will also provide a platform from which our financial
sponsors can display their logos.

At this stage of development (and because the 2007 racing calendar is yet
to be finalised), we are primarily seeking to raise approximately $3000 in
order to procure the uniforms (for short-sleeved jerseys and windproof
vests).

Sponsorship Benefits

As a sponsor of Team Aurora we aim to be able to provide the following

benefits to your organisation:

• Your company name and/or logo professionally printed out the team
uniform. The uniform will be worn during training and at
competitions, providing advertising for your organisation.

• Contribution to newsletters or other business publications providing

updates on our performance at various competitions.

• Sponsorship mention at any events that attract local television,

radio or media attention (such events include the Brindabella
Challenge, the Tour de Femme and the Scott 24 Hour Mountain Bike
Race).

• Entry in specific events as Sponsors Name/Team Aurora.

Team Members
The team consists of a group of local Canberra riders, who all are
members of local ACT cycling clubs. Our riders come from a variety of
backgrounds and experiences, but have the common goal of cycling and
training together as a Women’s competitive team. A brief introduction for
each of our team members is provided below.

Cheryl Woods (Coach). Cheryl works is an IT

Consultant and Outdoor Education Instructor. If
this doesn't keep her busy enough she is also
studying for a Masters in Project Management at
the University of Southern Queensland. A previous
state champion in track cycling, mountain biking
and road cycling she has placed 4th at
the Mountain Bike Nationals (dual slalom) and was
also selected to represent Australia in the
University Games. Cheryl's passion for cycling has
been reignited through coaching Team Aurora and
helping them to achieve their sporting goals. She
will compete in off-road cycling events and
adventure races both nationally and locally.
Bec Barwick. Bec is currently working towards her
PhD in Molecular Microbiology characterising a
cluster of genes of a bacteriophage. An
accomplished athlete and team player she has
represented NSW in track and field, played first
grade hockey, raced triathlon and is now actively
cycling. A competitive Triathlete, in recent years
she won the Novice Series Point Score in 2004, and
placed well over the 2005/06 Triathlon racing
season. Recently she started cycling and completed
the 2006 Kowalski Women's and Juniors tour event
and is now working towards the 2007 Canberra
Tour. Summer will see her racing in the Canberra
Cycling criterion series, various road races,
triathlons and mountain biking events.

Karen Burton. Karen is a Physical Education

consultant with the Department of Education and
also lectures at the Canberra University in the
School of Education. In the workplace, Karen
seeks to improve the quality of life for all children,
developing skills for life-long activity. Karen enjoys
playing competitive basketball, cross-country
running and general team sports; however, chronic
knee injuries have turned Karen’s focus toward
cycling. Karen is passionate about women in sport
and would like to see more women recognise the
benefits of fun, social and low impact exercise that
is great for fitness. Karen enjoys both on and off
road cycling.

Erica Collins. Erica is currently working as a

Business Analyst for Providence Consulting Group
and is also an active member of the Australian
Army Reserve. She is currently studying Human
Movements at the University of Canberra and
hopes to put that study to use as a
Physiotherapist. A previous ADF National Triathlon
Champion (age group) Erica's passion for cycling
was reinvigorated after returning to Canberra in
2005. She has competed in both on and off-road
cycling events and is keen to continue competing
in local and regional events.

Anne Cronin. Anne works as a senior manager at

the Australian National Audit Office. Road cycling
(and racing) have been Anne’s main sporting
interests after many years as a bike commuter in
Canberra. As evidence of the fun of cycle racing
and the altered states it can produce, Anne was
delighted in 2005 to have been a 'Veteran' cyclist,
a 'Master', a 'women's novice' and even a 'Half
Ironman' cyclist. Categories appeal to auditors -
 but Anne sees fun in bending some boundaries.

Peggy Douglass.

Kate Fitzpatrick. Kate is a member of the

Australian Federal Police and works in the
Professional Standards Marketing Team.
Essentially a trainer, Kate has been involved in
training others for many years including in
Disaster Victim Identification, horse-riding,
swimming and running. In 2003 Kate represented
Australia at the Triathlon World Championships in
Queenstown, New Zealand. Today she prefers to
concentrate on road cycling to ensure a balance of
work, sport and play. Her interest in cycling and
having a go at most things has led her to
participate in team endurance mountain bike
races, road racing and more recently in an outing
on “freak bikes”

Michelle Greenwood. Michelle works as an IT

Consultant with the Australian Government and
recently started competing on the bike. Coming
from a triathlon background Michelle has raced in
marathons, completed a Half Ironman, a number of
Olympic distance triathlons and most recently she
completed a 1,200km cycle tour in South Australia.
Michelle hopes to improve her cycling and would
like to compete in overseas marathons and
eventually an Ironman triathlon. Whilst relatively
new to the sport, Michelle’s passion for cycling has
been boosted through her participation in Team
Aurora.

Natasha Mitchell. After a life of bike commuting,

last year Natasha became inspired by the Tour de
France to take up road cycling and racing. Natasha
enters any and every competition or participation
event that comes along, but she prefers to show
her talents in Individual Time Trials. When not
riding she works as a Project Manager for Cancer
Australia and is a volunteer bike maintenance
instructor for Pedal Power. Natasha is also
planning on ‘paying forward’ her cycling training
and plans on becoming a Level 1 coach in the near
future.
Tanya Saad. Tanya…

Bec Thorpe. A talented Graphic Designer, Bec

works for the Parliamentary Education Office in the
Federal Parliament. With a background in
Mountain Biking she has recently discovered that
"Roadies" can have fun too and has enjoyed her
maiden year cycling with Team Aurora. Bec and
her husband enjoy sled dog racing with their
Siberian Huskies and serving coffee from their
portable ‘Funky Brew’ coffee cart when not
spending time on the bike.