Rock-steady for champs

Bryanna Bell is off to Italy to compete after raising more than $7000 from a fundraising page. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua Lakes High School Year 11 student Bryanna Bell will be heading to Italy for the rock climbing world championships after reaching her fundraising target.

Bryanna, 15, qualified earlier this year for the junior world championships for rock climbing, to be held in Arco, Italy, in August.

Bryanna set up a Spark My Potential fundraising page last month and has raised more than $7000 for the trip.

She said she did not want to miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime.

"I first tried rock climbing when I was 7 years old and really got into it, and since then have been working hard and competing at regional and national competitions."

She said she had invested a lot of time into rock climbing and was excited about competing against climbers from all corners of the world.

"When I first started climbing in 2008, I trained once a week with my amazing coach Lossie, and around 10 other climbers.

"Now I train four times a week."