Get Birch to Bobsleigh Europa Cup

Hi, my name is Alex Birch.

It has always been a dream of mine to become a professional athlete. After many years of training, working hard to balance my commitment to sport whilst studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University, I have very nearly achieved this goal.

Over the summer I participated in an intensive selection and training course for the British Bobsleigh team. This involved training most weeks in Bath (the home of the national training centre) having to fund my own travel and accommodation whilst there.

Through hard work and dedication and having just begun my final year at university I have now secured a place on the British Bobsleigh Team.

However, this means I suddenly find myself in a position where before the 21st of October when the teams leave for training and competitions across Europe, I need to secure funding or sponsorship to help me get there. All while continuing my Product Design Bsc degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

So this is where I am asking for your help.

Whilst not quite cool runnings, Bobsleigh is only part funded nationally and I need financial help to ensure that I have the equipment and opportunity that my years of effort have earnt me.

In order to take up my place alongside the team I need to purchase helmets, burn protection vests, specialist ice spike sprint shoes, cold weather gear, bobsleigh gloves, insurance, fitness / health testing and funding for my dietary needs.

Working over the summer and with the help and support of both my parents it has meant that I have been able to get to the final year of my university degree whilst completing all my training. However, I'm sure that it comes as no surprise that student loans don't cover the cost of elite-level sport and as such I need to ask you for a helping hand, please.

Any funding I receive will be ring-fenced, ensuring that it only goes towards fulfilling my Bobsleigh dreams, as part of the team training and racing across Europe in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Latvia and Norway with Team Baird - as part of that four-person squad.

I know that this opportunity presents the chance of a lifetime and with your help it is within my grasp.

So please if you can, could I ask you to donate towards the £4,500 I need to raise in order to fulfil my international sporting dreams.

Thank you.