Dogecoin to the rescue again! The online Reddit community of r/Dogecoin has once again banded together to help send an athlete to Sochi for the Olympic games. Last week it was the Jamaican bobsled team, and this week it is Indian luger Shiva Keshavan - though Shiva's story has a twist, and an even better ending.

Last year, the International Olympic Committee suspended the Indian Olympic Association from competing in the games after they elected corrupt officials. The association chose Lalit Bhanot as its secretary general, despite Bhanot having spent 10 months in jail on charges of corruption. He eventually stepped down from his position, but the association won't have its new elections until after the games have already begun. As a result, India's qualifying athletes had to find their own way to Sochi.

One of those athletes is Shiva, 32, who hails from a small village in the Himalayas. He was just 16 years old when he first qualified for the Olympics in 1998, making him the youngest qualifier ever in the luge.

After hearing his plight, the Dogecoin community raised $7,000 for Shiva's trip - in less than three hours! The funds came in the form of Dogecoins, the tongue-in-cheek digital currency named after the popular Doge meme.

As it turns out, the subreddit's donation was generous, but unnecessary. According to a message by Shiva, India's government has agreed to bear the cost of travel for him and other athletes affected by the suspension.

"Although I am very grateful and humbled by your generosity, I cannot accept funds for costs that have already been paid," he writes. "I would like to see the funds you raised be used for a good cause. After speaking with the Dogecoin Foundation, we have decided to support two causes important to us and currently promoted by the Foundation: children and animals."

Shiva says all the donations r/Dogecoin raised for him will go toward Doge 4 Kids, a campaign that provides service dogs to children in need.

Story continues

What an incredible story of strangers from all over the world helping one another! We know we'll be rooting for Shiva as he luges his way in Sochi... especially after seeing how he trains - he's literally sliding down mountain highways filled with cars! Anyone with enough skill to luge through traffic unharmed deserves to compete in the Olympics.

This will be Shiva's fifth time competing in the Olympics, and his first as an independent. Alpine skier Himanshu Thakur and cross-country skier Nadeem Iqbal will also be competing as independents in this year's games.

"In my heart and mind, I'm competing for India," said Shiva. "Every day I'm flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. This is enough to push me forward."

More of the Good News:

Here's a Great Way to Support Gay Athletes and Equality at the Olympics

Strangers Help Parents Travel to Sochi to See Daughter Compete

Internet Helps Send Jamaican Bobsled Team to Sochi

