The British Luge team are seeking to raise £25,000 to finance participation in Pyeongchang 2018 ©GB Luge

Great Britain's luge team has started a crowd funding initiative on Go Fund Me to raise funds for its participation in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

They have set a target of £25,000 (£33,000/€28,000), of which a small, but nevertheless important, £180 ($237/€204) has already been pledged in the very early stages of the initiative.

The five-member team needs to compete on the World Cup circuit to make the qualifying standard.

In a statement they say: "Luge is the fastest sport on ice, with athletes hitting speeds up to 90 miles per hour just inches from the ice".

The British luge team does not receive any funding from UK Sport as it did not win gold medals at Sochi 2014 ©GB Luge
The British luge team does not receive any funding from UK Sport as it did not win gold medals at Sochi 2014 ©GB Luge

They also point out that GB Luge receives no Government funding, unlike the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association.

They did not qualify for UK Sport funding as they did not get any medals at Sochi 2014.

Donations may be made here.