Support Joy's 2018 Track Season
Donation protected
My name is Joy Spearchief-Morris, I am an Indigenous Canadian 100m hurdler and I have my sights set on competing for Team Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. I am currently living and training in Santa Barbara, California full time with the Santa Barbara Track Club under Josh Priester, chasing down this dream. I am seeking support to help cover some of my costs involved in competiting and training during the 2018 track season; including support as I chase down the opportunity to compete for Team Canada at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
I train full time, six days a week up to four hours a day, with the Santa Barbara Track Club. However, chasing down the Olympic dream has come with an added financial cost and I cannot do it alone. I work part-time jobs outside of my training schedule to support myself and my dream. I am currently unfunded by any sport organizations or individual sponsorships.
Funds raised from this campaign would help offset the costs necessary for chasing down the standard to qualify for World Indoors, including my participation at competitive indoor meets within the United States. As well I would be raising funds to compete at the Canadian National Outdoor Championships in Ottawa in July, providing me with the opportunity to compete against Canada's best hurdlers on home soil. Funds raised would go towards covering each meet's:
-transportation (round trip from Santa Barbara as well as ground transportation at meet)
-accommodations
-entrance fees
I am also seeking assistance to offset some of my training fees for training and competing with the Santa Barbara Track Club for the 2018 season. This additional financial support would help me to achieve my dreams by lifting a "weight off of my shoulders" and help me to focus on my training.
My deadline for this campaign is February 2, 2018.
Recently, I graduated from Western University in London, Ontario Canada this past June as a 4x All-Canadian, 3x Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Conference champion, 2x OUA Conference MVP, Canadian National University (USPORTS) champion, as well as multi-time OUA and USPORTS national medalist. I was also Western University's Graduating Female Athlete of the Year. Recently, I was honoured as the recipient of the 2017 Tom Longboat Award as the Female Aboriginal Athlete of the Year. This award was special for me as it was especially an honour for me as it is the first time I have been recognized as an Indigenous athlete for my achievements. The award honours Aboriginal athletes and their achievements within Canada.
Now I have set my goals higher and dream of representing both Indigenous People and Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in the 100m hurdles. As a stepping stone towards this dream, this coming 2018 competition season I aim to compete for Team Canada at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles in March in Birmingham, United Kingdom. International competitions like this are important because they 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 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 knew of and saw few First Nations people compete at the professional or international level. I want to be someone Indigenous youth have to look up to. I want to be the 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 a way for me to begin to do this.
Track and field has given me a place to belong; it has provided me with a chance to pursue my dreams, become a role model, and become a person I am proud of. I want to show the world what I can accomplish with track on the highest stage while representing Team Canada. Competing at the IAAF World Championshisp would be an important step towards achieving my Olympic drea. Any support I receive from this campaign goes a long way towards achieving my goals for the 2018 season and beyond. Thank you for supporting my dreams!
I train full time, six days a week up to four hours a day, with the Santa Barbara Track Club. However, chasing down the Olympic dream has come with an added financial cost and I cannot do it alone. I work part-time jobs outside of my training schedule to support myself and my dream. I am currently unfunded by any sport organizations or individual sponsorships.
Funds raised from this campaign would help offset the costs necessary for chasing down the standard to qualify for World Indoors, including my participation at competitive indoor meets within the United States. As well I would be raising funds to compete at the Canadian National Outdoor Championships in Ottawa in July, providing me with the opportunity to compete against Canada's best hurdlers on home soil. Funds raised would go towards covering each meet's:
-transportation (round trip from Santa Barbara as well as ground transportation at meet)
-accommodations
-entrance fees
I am also seeking assistance to offset some of my training fees for training and competing with the Santa Barbara Track Club for the 2018 season. This additional financial support would help me to achieve my dreams by lifting a "weight off of my shoulders" and help me to focus on my training.
My deadline for this campaign is February 2, 2018.
Recently, I graduated from Western University in London, Ontario Canada this past June as a 4x All-Canadian, 3x Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Conference champion, 2x OUA Conference MVP, Canadian National University (USPORTS) champion, as well as multi-time OUA and USPORTS national medalist. I was also Western University's Graduating Female Athlete of the Year. Recently, I was honoured as the recipient of the 2017 Tom Longboat Award as the Female Aboriginal Athlete of the Year. This award was special for me as it was especially an honour for me as it is the first time I have been recognized as an Indigenous athlete for my achievements. The award honours Aboriginal athletes and their achievements within Canada.
Now I have set my goals higher and dream of representing both Indigenous People and Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in the 100m hurdles. As a stepping stone towards this dream, this coming 2018 competition season I aim to compete for Team Canada at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles in March in Birmingham, United Kingdom. International competitions like this are important because they 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 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 knew of and saw few First Nations people compete at the professional or international level. I want to be someone Indigenous youth have to look up to. I want to be the 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 a way for me to begin to do this.
Track and field has given me a place to belong; it has provided me with a chance to pursue my dreams, become a role model, and become a person I am proud of. I want to show the world what I can accomplish with track on the highest stage while representing Team Canada. Competing at the IAAF World Championshisp would be an important step towards achieving my Olympic drea. Any support I receive from this campaign goes a long way towards achieving my goals for the 2018 season and beyond. Thank you for supporting my dreams!
Organizer
Joy Spearchief-Morris
Organizer
Santa Barbara, CA