#makeachamp

This post is a departure from my usual writings. I am wielding my pen today to champion a cause. I’m rallying support for an amazing small women’s softball team. Please read on, share this message, and contribute what you can. Every dollar you give will play a vital role in helping them achieve their dreams! The Dikuarta Women’s Softball Team is made up of fierce, talented Miskito women from the…

You have probably heard about MAKEACHAMP’s rising growth. And you may have read how the crowdfunding platform - now 2 years old - is already used by more than 10,000 athletes in 20 countries. But have you seen its press coverage?

The quotes above are what journalists are writing about MAKEACHAMP and its athletes in just the past 3 weeks. And yet we have not run any big marketing campaign. We don’t have expensive movies or billboard campaigns. We don’t actively network in startup events. If there’s one theme that emerges from CEO David Barkay, it’s that MAKEACHAMP made athletes the epicentre of its efforts.

My Story

I want to succeed! I have been doing Judo since I was 9 years old. I began just to get fit and gain self-confidence and steadily improved from there. I won the British National Championships twice as a Pre-Cadet and was then invited on to the England Squad. In 2010 I lost my way a little and reduced my training, concentrating more on typical teenage girl activities, experimenting with doing my nails (you can't have long nails in Judo), I dyed my hair and went out in the evenings instead of going training. My coach then invited all club members to save for a trip to Miami to compete in the US Junior Open, in the Summer of 2011. I wanted to go and have a great holiday with friends. However, when I arrived there and fought I just missed out on a medal, placing 5th. I became really frustrated with myself and realised how much I missed competing, training and success. When we returned home from the States I didn't miss a training session for the next 6 months, really worked hard to bring my standards back up. I cut my nails and tied my hair back and decided that an elite sports career was what I truly wanted and I believed that with the right support I could achieve this goal. Since then I have trained more and more and have made great progress. Despite still being a Junior athlete I got a 7th place at the British Senior European Cup in 2013 which was my first exposure to a European Cup and I also won a medal at the British Senior Championships and am now a member of the GB Senior team (at -48kg). Despite this great status I am still not getting selections to represent my country abroad and part of this is to do with my physical condition. I suffer from hypermobility of the joints which leaves me susceptible to injury. I have had numerous shoulder problems. I have not been able to afford private health care and so have had to wait very long periods to get NHS physio appointments. This has not been ideal. Last year my Judo coach put me in touch with a fantastic strength coach who has helped me re-write my strength and conditioning programme in order to strengthen my joints. This has helped enormously and my injury rate has reduced considerable, allowing me to train much more efficiently and without breaks for rehab. I am really happy with where I am in terms of training and am matching it with education, studying Sport and Exercise Science at college and from September will continue this topic at Wolverhampton University. In order to now get selected by Team GB I must be able to demonstrate medal winning performances internationally and so I have to self fund to European Cups, which cost anywhere between £300 and £500 per event, for travel, accommodation and entry. I also need to update my Judo suits in order to meet minimum requirements to be able to compete at this level. The suits will cost approx. £250 and a European Cup in Finland in September will be about £350. I have a small amount saved, but need a further £500 in order to buy the suits and pay for the event. Any help that can be given would be appreciated no end. I am struggling to finance my transition into senior Judo, but have the motivation, dedication and coaches to make it work. My support team are amazing and I want to make them proud (my coach says I shouldn't write that because she is already proud).Thank you for taking the time to read my story.