I can proudly say that I am a Great Britain Age Group Triathlete. I have competed in the ETU European Standard Distance Triathlon Championships in Geneva 2015 and will be competing in the:

• ITU World  Standard Distance Triathlon Championships in Chicago 2015
• ETU European Standard Distance Triathlon Championships in Lisbon 2016

As age groupers though, we have to pay for the privilege to compete for our country. Any contributions large or small would be so gratefully received and help me get to these prestigious events.

So here is my story:

I woke up one morning in April 2013 and decided I wanted to do a triathlon. I was captain of a hockey team at the time and we had just been through a very tough and stressful season. Hockey was no longer fun or my outlet so I needed something new. I joined my local triathlon club, Stortford Tri, and started to join in with the local running races too.

To my surprise I was quite good at running. However, my swimming left a lot to be desired as I hadn’t swum for about 10 years!

The triathlon club was extremely friendly and supportive and encouraged me to enter Liverpool Triathlon later that year to try and qualify to represent Great Britain.

So, the big race day came and, unfortunately, after a really good bike leg I came off my bike and broke my collar bone – not quite the ending I was hoping for!

I spent the winter recovering and decided to go back again to Liverpool to finish the race this time. This time it was the weekend of Hurricane Bertha, so my hopes of a good time went out the window. However I finished the triathlon in one piece!

To my surprise when I got home I realised I had finished in a qualifying position for the ETU European Triathlon Standard Distance Triathlon Championships in Geneva 2015!

Training for that started in December 2014 and then in May 2015 I also qualified for the Worlds this year, and in June 2015 I qualified for next years Europeans!

I work in a full-time job which involves an hours commute each way and have to fit training in around it. My friends and family are really important to me and they have been so supportive.

I invite you to become involved in the further development of this great sport within our country, and to assist in the development of a local young person and athlete.

My goal is simple. I want to be a top National and International triathlete. This is my dream and with the support of individuals and organisations like yours, I can not only try but I can also succeed.

I am an aspiring triathlete and have no assistance with expenditure on training, coaching, camps, equipment, travel, accommodation and competition costs.

I would like to raise up to £10,000 to assist with the next two years of racing, which will help me compete internationally and continue the rapid progression I have already made.

I want to find out how much higher I can go and with your support I will have the best possible chance of doing that.