Help Tolu go to the Nat Wheelchair Lax tournament

Hi, I'm Catherine and I'm fundraising for my son, Tolu.

Tolu is a multi-sport para athlete. He started wheelchair basketball when he was 10, 7 years ago, when he joined a wonderful adaptive sports program, the Bennett Blazers (Baltimore). He now competes nationally in the following para sports: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair track, wheelchair softball, sled hockey, wheelchair tennis, swimming, field events.

He was recently recruited by the Maryland Thunder Wheelchair Lacrosse team (adults) to be their interim goalie. The MD Thunder are the current wheelchair lax national champions. They are training for the national tournament being held in Denver, CO on August 26/27, 2022.

Tolu travels a lot for all the tournaments he competes in. He just came back from Denver where he competed in the Move United Junior Nationals in swimmimg and field events. He brought home 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals; he medalled in every single event he competed in and achieved personal records in all but one. This trip was very expensive, but we had planned for it.

He was just recruited by the lax team a few weeks ago and we had not planned on him doing another major trip this quickly.

We are looking for help with the travel costs for this tournament: airfare ($910), accommodation ($500) and food ($300).

We are also looking for help to finish paying for his new basketball wheelchair ($1,998). He received a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) to buy a new chair, but the grant ($2,700) does not cover the entire cost.

Sports mean everything to Tolu. He is fiercely competitive but is equally fierce in cheering on his team mates. The Bennett Blazers have opened up the world for him, have made him more independent, more active. He's had so many fantastic experiences and opportunities through the program. He has traveled to so many places (Kansas, Kentucky, Chicago, South Carolina, North Carolina, Denver, Pittsburgh, to name a few), met so many friends and achieved so much in the last few years.

In 2019, Tolu and his team won the National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (prep division).

In March 2022, Tolu and his team took 2nd place at the Northeast Sled Hockey League playoffs (adults).

In March 2022, he qualified for swim nationals.

In April 2022, Tolu and his team won the National Sled Hockey Festival (3rd tier) (kids) with a shutout game. He plays goalie for both the adult and kid teams.

In May 2022, he qualified for field nationals.

In June 2022, he won the under 18 co-ed flight B doubles at the River City Slam wheelchair Tennis Tournament (his very first tennis tournament).

In July 2022, he competed in swim and field events at the Move United Junior Nationals.in Denver, for the first time, and medalled in every event.

For fun, the Bennett Blazers go kayaking, sailing, fishing, surfing...

Tolu has an extremely rare genetic mutation; he is the oldest of 5 children diagnosed with this mutation. We know next to nothing about his condition. He uses a wheelchair and has some cognitive impairment. He will not receive a high school diploma, but a certificate. His dream would be to play wheelchair basketball in college, but he won't be able to do that due to his cognitive impairment. He is a cheerful, outgoing, kind, funny, caring and competitive kid whose entire world revolves around sports.

Thank you for reading and helping Tolu continue reaching for the stars.