Help Katelin Gunn- Aust U25 Wheelchair Basketball

This video provides some background about me.

“Second chances are always there, so take every opportunity and never give up.” Katelin Gunn

Hello, my name is Katelin Gunn, and I was involved in a car accident 2 and a half years ago, on the 16th of December 2018. That day has
had a profound effect on my life and future. The accident has left me with a spinal cord injury, paralysed from the waist down. I also
suffered many more injuries including a brain bleed and a major laceration to my right hand and arm requiring further surgeries and
months in hospital. At the time of the accident my future was very uncertain.

After many months away and undergoing my intensive rehabilitation I was able to return to school again. I have since gained my coaching
accreditation for female football to enable me to continue being involved with girls’ football at Scotch. I have always loved sport and am so grateful I can still be involved in football in a coaching capacity. But I was missing the competitive nature of playing myself, so I decided to
take up wheelchair basketball.

This sport has given me the chance to compete again and I have been lucky enough to be selected in the Australian Women’s under 25
team, known as the Devils. I have already attended 1 training camp in Canberra at the Australia Institute of Sport (AIS). We are training for the World Championships in 2023. This will involve ongoing training both in Canberra and Adelaide. This is a remarkable chance for me,
and I want so much to make the most of it. I am very excited to be competing in sport again. I was never one to be prepared to settle,
so I also hope to get involved in para-rowing and AFL.

https://www.facebook.com/151329861575727/posts/5784960058212651/?d=n 

Mum and Dad have always been hugely supportive of me. Since my accident they have had to be even more so. However, this has not been without significant sacrifice. Mum and Dad have had to be live apart since December 2018 with Mum staying in Adelaide with me and Dad home managing the family farm over on the West Coast of SA.

Financially this has been challenging, as it required my parents purchasing a house equipped for my needs as well as different vehicles in
Adelaide to support me. Dad travels to and from the farm and Adelaide every 2 to 3 weeks, which involves a 1300 km round trip. We were fortunate that straight after my accident a different go fund me page was set up to assist Mum furnishing the home we had to purchase in Adelaide, and it was a huge help.

I am currently in year 12 at Scotch College with an intention to continue studying at university in Adelaide, I am potentially planning to
study either psychology or accounting. I will not let this accident stop me living my life.

I need to raise around $50,000.

To enable me to take up the exciting opportunity to play in the U25 Devils team, the cost of the sports chair I need to play basketball is
around $25,000 alone. There will also be approximately $10,000 of additional costs for travel, spare part such as wheels and a smart drive.

As I am very active, I have worn out the battery on my current “everyday wheelchair” and a new battery costs approximately $12,000.
As you can see, just simple necessities are all expensive but this will allow me to continue to get around independently.

In addition, we need to make some home modifications for the house on the farm.

I’m sure there will also be many more unexpected costs.

I want so much to be independent and to take life on with both hands, but I just need a little help to do so.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support

Katelin

Katelin's gofundme page is supported by Scotch College Parents and Friends, and the Football and Boarding Parent Support Groups.
All funds raised will be managed by the Gunn family