Melanie’s journey to elite para sport
Journey into Elite para sport: Waka Ama worlds 2022
Invercargill, Southland
I’m Melanie and I am a dual citizen of NZ and UK. I became disabled 18 months ago ( I had to have my left lower leg amputated as a result of a medical mistake). Prior to this I represented GB in Age Group Triathlon at world level.
I have been seeking a sport that I can participate in and enjoy as a para-athlete and having recently started Waka ama, I am proud to say I have been selected onto the New Zealand Elite para squad for the World Championships in London - England in August 2022. This is the first time the Waka Ama worlds have been held in Europe.
I have around 12 weeks to raise the $5000+$3000 it will cost for the flights and accommodation to London, training camps, equipment and so on. So, to coin an old phrase, every little will indeed help.
Thank you for reading.
Use of funds
Costs associated with getting to the championships - flights - accommodation etc.
Other page links
Latest update
Thank you Community Trust! 18 July 2022
One more camp to go, this weekend, then we are on the countdown to departure!
In the last camp we started to play around with some team combinations using two W6 waka ama’s. Until all the new paddlers get officially classified when we arrive, we won’t know what the final team combinations are, because each team has to add up to 18 (and must have two women), numbers are based on the classifications given to each paddler.
Massive thanks to Te Piritahi a Rua Waka ama (my local club) for getting the boat back out for a few more weeks so I could practice some of the skills needed for my back up seating position (seat 2, which helps to turn the boat). I won’t know till after classification if I am in seat 4 or 2. I think seat 4 (powerhouse!) is more likely, but we will see.
We fly out of NZ on 5 August, and are based in Slough for the two weeks that the championships are on. If anyone I know in the UK wants to catch up with me, message me on Facebook!
I think I am almost all sorted now. The packing will commence in the next week or so… 30kg is all I get and that includes my spare leg!
FUND RAISING UPDATE
My thanks this month goes to the Community Trust (www.communitytrustsouth.nz) for awarding me a sports scholarship. This means that I am now just $500 short of my $8k total!
Thank you to all the organizations who have awarded me grants and the individuals who have sponsored me. Without all of your help, this just would not have been possible.
$500 to go, so go on, please share my page one more time!
Latest donations
Aaaw thank you Tania. Fingers crossed my leg behaves and survives all the plane trips!
Thank you so much Joanne. I will be in the Slough area so if you’re around let me know :)
Thank you so much for your generous donation.
Hahah! Thank you so much for your generosity and support!
Thank you so much!!
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