Join Neelam's Paralympic Dream: Next stop to the WSPS World Cup in Al Ain, UAE in February 2019!

Neelam is 26 years old and was born with a condition called Lipomyelomeningocele, also known as a form of Spina Bifida. Her disability was never seen as a curse, but more of a learning opportunity to show the world what she's made of.

Hi! My name is Neelam O'Neill and I have a dream to be the first female in over 30 years to represent NZ at the Paralympic Games in shooting para sport! My passion is 10-metre indoor air-rifle and air-pistol and I compete in events: R3 SH1 air-rifle mixed prone and P2 SH1 air-pistol women events. I am currently the only female who competes internationally for New Zealand in these events since 1984 and it's all done from my manual wheelchair. I am currently working towards qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and with your support, I know I can get there!

With your previous love and support, I successfully achieved my first stop by competing in the World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup in Thailand in November 2017. It was a great experience and I was able to secure a spot to compete at the WSPS World Championships in South Korea in May 2018. However, I was unable to attend because I needed surgery on my elbow. I was devastated I couldn't go, but that hasn't stopped me moving forward on my journey. My recovery is going great and I am working hard to be ready for what's in store next year.

The next step in my journey is to compete in the WSPS World Cup in Al Ain, February 2019. I am fortunate because there is another WSPS World Championships in Sydney, Australia in October next year. This will give me the chance to secure a quota for 2020 Tokyo Paralympics! If I can compete and do well in Al Ain, this will help me to qualify for the 2019 October WSPS World Champions in Sydney, gain one of the two Minimum Qualifying Scores for each of my events that I need to be selected for 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. It's an expensive road ahead, but with your help, you will be giving me a chance to follow my dreams to make my country proud!

To give you an insight to my shooting world, I have been shooting air-rifle for 6 years and air-pistol for 1 year. I am coached by 4 time NZ Paralympian legend Michael Johnson and 2 time NZ Commonwealth Games representative Ricky Zhao. I have represented NZ 3 times overseas and have won numerous national placings over the past 5 years. I train 4-5 times a week at the best training facility in New Zealand (Parafed Auckland Shooting Club). It is the only indoor air club in NZ with electronic targets.

Achievements and Recognitions:

2018 - Finalist for 'Emerging Athlete' category for the Attitude Awards

2017/2018 - Recipient of the Parafed Auckland scholarship

2016- 2018 - Invited to join the national Pathway to Podium program. The program prepares athletes into potential high performance.

2014 - A finalist for 'Courage in Sport' category for the Attitude Awards

I have a great support team behind me and a bright future ahead. These generous funds will assist me to compete at the WSPS World Cup in Al Ain, UAE in February next year. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated and you will be a crucial part to making my dream come true!