Help this 'WILDCARD' go on a WILD ADVENTURE to the 2024 IBTA world champs in Italy this September, a first for New Zealand

My name is Lissie, I am an albino and I am Legally blind.

Tennis has been our family sport for 3 generations, as a child I was told by a coach 'I could not play tennis because I was blind' so I gave up.

Race forward 35 years and a good friend encouraged me to come to the local club and have a hit against the wall for exercise, since then my love of tennis has been reignited and I found Blind and Low vision tennis and it has changed my life. I am now part of my community, serving on the committee and playing on adult nights, being accepted for what I can achieve.

BLV tennis is getting established in NZ, I am driving the development of the sport with a great group of supporters, it is invigorating to see other people excited just like I was that they CAN play tennis.

I have gone to Aus' twice this year to compete as there are no tournaments in NZ yet, I am getting better every trip, so much so I came to the attention of the international blind tennis association and they have offered me a 'wildcard' into this years world champs in Venice September 23-29.

This is such an amazing honor to be selected to represent NZ on an international stage there are 20 countries attending with approximately 140 athletes invited.

I have paid for previous trips myself, and fund my own coaching etc, I don't want a hand out, I'd love a hand up.

I have shared a video link of my most recent match in Sydney and links to the Facebook group and website so you can follow along with the sport as it grows in NZ