Help me represent New Zealand in the World Kendo Championships!

Hi! My name is Zach, I'm 20 and I'm a student at the University of Auckland. I have been selected to be a part of the New Zealand National Kendo team to compete in the 19th World Kendo Championships (WKC) next month in Italy. Kendo is a contemporary Japanese sport and martial art where practitioners, in full armour, face off in duels (see video for an example). There is a lively, small but very strong Kendo community here in New Zealand. WKC, the largest Kendo championship in the world, happens once every three years, and this year it's taking place in Milan, Italy.

I have been training in New Zealand for 3 years, at the Auckland Kendo Club in Onehunga. I'm relatively new on the block so you can imagine my surprise when I was picked for the team this year! This drove me to work even harder. I've gotten sick, sustained injuries to my Achilles and both wrists I've won fights, I've lost fights - I've overcome my lowest lows. What I've gained is a purpose to honourably represent New Zealand to the best of my abilities, it is never giving up. It is improving and fighting to improve.

I'm putting myself through a conjoint degree in Design and Global Studies while working as a tutor to afford this trip. Unfortunately there is no funding for kendo in NZ and raising the necessary funds has been a huge challenge. I'm here to ask for any small amount of support to help me eat while I'm competing.

It is such an honour to be selected for the New Zealand team for this duty