Today's blog post is not exactly a blog post per say but more of a post to provide some information about my new fundraising campaign! If you follow me on social media, you would know that I have decided to start a GoFundMe page to help raise support for some of the expenses involved with my 2018 competition season. The link to my GoFundMe can be found here:
One of my big goals for the 2018 track season is to compete for Canada at the IAAF World Indoor Championships for the 60m hurdlers in March in Birmingham, United Kingdom. I believe large international competitions like this are important stepping stones towards my dream of competing at the 2020 Olympic Games. This meet would give me a chance to compete against some of the best competitors in the world while representing Canada and increase my experience on the world stage. I have not represented Canada since 2014 and this would be my first time representing Canada in the hurdles at an international competition. The confidence I gained from last year's indoor season running hurdles has made me firmly believe that I have a serious shot at competing at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. I also want to represent Indigenous people on the world stage. Growing up as an Indigenous person in Canada, I lacked Indigenous athletes as role models in sport, especially Indigenous women. I saw or knew of few Indigenous people who had competed on professional or international levels. I want to be someone Indigenous youth have to look up to. I want to be that person that inspires young girls and Indigenous youth to achieve their own dreams. I believe competing for Team Canada as an Indigenous woman at the IAAF World Indoor Championships is way for me to begin to do this.
I wrote in my last blog post about my struggles with the transition into life as a post collegiate athlete. Chasing down my Olympic dream has been a harder adjustment than I could have every imagined. Along with this transition, there has come an increased financial burden involved in supporting my dream. The world of track and field can be very unforgiving, especially for the unsponsored post collegiate athlete. Although I currently work two jobs to support myself, costs involved in training, physical therapy to stay healthy and competing in larger high level meets, especially large qualifying meets, will always cause me increased financial stress. The purpose of my GoFundMe page is to raise funds to help offset some of my training and competition costs involved in chasing down the opportunity to compete for Team Canada for the 2018 season. Most importantly, these funds would offset costs for my participation for the major qualifying meet, the Canadian National Indoor Championships in February in Montreal. I am also raising funds to compete at the Canadian National Outdoor Championships in Ottawa in July, giving me the opportunity to compete against the best hurdlers in Canada on home soil. Funds raised would go towards each meet's: -transportation (flights round trip from Santa Barbara as well as ground transportation at each meet) -accommodations -entrance fees
As well, some of these funds would go towards offsetting some of my fees involved in training and competing with the Santa Barbara Track Club for the 2018 season. This campaign is important to supporting both my 2018 goals as well as my future Olympic goals. Any additional financial support I receive helps support me and my dreams by lifting a weight off my shoulders so I can focus more on my training and less on financial stress.
If you feel like supporting my journey for the coming season please take a look at my GoFundMe page. Even sharing my campaign amongst your friends and family could help increase support for my dreams beyond what I can achieve on my own.