Olympic speed skater raises money to bring parents to 2014 Sochi Games

More and more Olympic athletes have turned to crowd-funding to help finance their training.

Now an American speed skater has used the Internet phenomenon to bring her parents along when she races at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Sugar Todd went on GoFundMe to ask for donations and quickly gathered $5,864 before closing the page.

“WOW, you are all absolutely remarkable,” she wrote to contributors on the website. “In less than 24 hours we met our fund-raising goal and then some. I am completely floored by the generosity of friends, family, and strangers alike.”

People go to crowdfunding sites to share their stories, asking for donations or selling shares of their project. It can be used to raise money for films, new businesses or other ventures.

Todd used GoFundMe as a way to thank her family.

She was born in Omaha and started racing with a local club as a youngster. She then convinced her parents to move her to Milwaukee, a mecca for speed skaters. Her mother went along while her father, a firefighter, remained in Nebraska, making frequent visits.

“At that age, I didn’t fully appreciate the sacrifices they were making,” she wrote.

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