Please HELP a young athlete fulfill her DREAMS

Hi,

My name is Mai, i'm a 15 year old aspiring athlete who lives and breathes ice hockey.

I live with ADHD/ASD but it does not define me - how I embrace challenges does. No matter how difficult or strange the world can feel at times, I always try to put my best foot foward, give my all and never give up.

On the Ice, playing hockey is where I feel real freedom. I love to play as part of a team, encouraging and supporting each other. I aspire to play at the highest level possible; hopefully one day I will earn the opportunity to represent Great Britain at an International level… this is my DREAM!

I am 1001% committed and train my socks off working hard both on and off the ice. Training is full on and I love every minute of it. My coaches, past and present are all amazing and have always pushed me hard to achieve my best.

I have pursued this dream through good and difficult times. I’ve maintained fitness throughout the covid pandemic whilst my parents had to work double their usual hours. I’ve bounced back from injury, a stronger and better player both mentally and physically. I’ve had to work hard to earn a place competing in both Women’s and Mixed teams and I’ve travelled the length of the country to attend training camps to learn from some of the best.

I now play for both an U16s Womens and U16s Mixed team, a Premiere league Women’s team and an Elite Women’s league team. The Elite league is the highest league in the country. Yes… that’s 4 teams all at once and I absolutely Iove it. I’ve also represented England U15s girls in a tournament in Bratislava June 2023 and I’m now trialing for the GB U16s Women’s team 2023/24 alongside some of the best players in the country.

I could not have done any of this without the amazing support and sacrifices made by my parents. As you can imagine playing ice hockey with all of the club fees, cost of attending development camps, safety equipment, travel costs etc… is not cheap! My dad works all the hours under the sun as a self employed bricklayer and my mum worked for the NHS supporting vulnerable people with chronic health conditions. Unfortunately she is currently unable to work due to existing health issues made worse by long covid. This has dramatically reduced our household income.

I have been very lucky to receive help and encouragement from a local sports foundation charity who have been very kind to help get me to this stage.

However, I’m in need of replacing the following vital safety equipment:

Chest and shoulder protector £210

Elbow pads £140

Shin guards £200

Gloves £215

Padded shorts £210

Anti concussion helmet £275

As you can see, this is a lot to ask of my parents on top of what they already do.

So, if you could help me in anyway I would be really grateful. Any amount, no matter how little is appreciated as it all adds up. If you can’t help financially then please don’t feel bad at all. Your continued support with kind words of encouragement alone mean a lot to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, ❤️ Mai x