Lewis will be running in the Trinidad International Marathon on January 25 to launch the #10golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund.

He hopes to raise TTD$500,000 (£51,000/$79,000/€65,000) which will be used to help fund athletes preparing for Rio 2016. 

The Fund will provide financial assistance to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes to enable them to train, recover and compete.

The long-term vision of the new Fund will be for Trinidad and Tobago to secure 10 or more Olympic gold medals by 2024.

Trinidad and Tobago made its Olympic debut at London 1948 and have since won a total of 18 medals, including two gold. 

They both in track and field with Hasely Crawford winning the 100 metres at Montreal 1976 and Keshorn Walcott the javelin at London 2012. 

Hasely Crawford (far right) claimed Trinidad and Tobago's first Olympic gold medal at Montreal 1976 when he won the 100 metres ©Hulton Archive/Getty Images

"Many of our nation's elite and high performance athletes are not financially well rewarded, and without financial support are unable to reach their potential," said Lewis.

"The wellbeing of our athletes, sportsmen and sports women is paramount to the TTOC, and this fund will enable our athletes to develop their sporting abilities and achieve consistent world class performances, fairly and ethically."

The fund will cover several items in support of athlete development including, direct support and out of pocket expenses; medal bonuses; Health and Accident Insurance; and Internships with Corporate Trinidad and Tobago to prepare for life after elite sport.

The TTOC is welcoming the support of the business community and private citizens in this venture with the fund providing national athletes with a dedicated resource and bridge the gap between success on and off the field.

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