Natalie Mitchell has battled back from harrowing injuries and is asking you for Triathlon Sponsorship to get back on the international circuit, where she belongs. . . 

My name is Natalie Mitchell and I am a 23 year old triathlete based at Durham University.

Whilst rowing for Great Britain in 2008, aged 16, I sustained a serious back injury. This injury changed my life completely, I lost the use of my right leg and was told I would never walk properly again, and that a return to sport was not a possibility.

Sport is a great passion of mine, I have competed in many sports for as long as I remember; so to have this removed from me was life changing.

I was determined to prove the consultants, who doubted me, wrong. 9 operations later, and 6 years of intense physio and rehab I was back doing what I love most – sport. Having accepted a return to rowing was too dangerous I turned to triathlon.

Unfortunately, 3 months after returning to full training I was hit by a lorry whilst out on a solo training ride – requiring an ankle reconstruction.

Six months after having my ankle reconstructed I raced my first Ironman 70.3 in Denmark, and was the 2nd placed Briton.

In the space of 2 weeks, I qualified for the Great Britain team at both the European Middle Distance Championships and Standard Distance Championships 2015.

Triathlon

Triathlon is a very demanding sport, in terms of both time and financial commitments. Unfortunately there are little or no government grants for triathlon.

An aspiring athlete has very little assistance with expenditure on training, coaching, camps, equipment, travel, accommodation and competition costs.

I train in excess of 20 hours per week; whilst reading for a MSci in Chemistry and Physics at Durham University. In the holidays I earn money to allow me to enter, travel and participate in races.

I will race domestically and internationally from April to September this year.

My main races:

European Middle Distance Championships 2015, Rimini IT – 24th May 2015 – EUROPEAN UNDER 25 MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPION

European Standard Distance Championships 2015, Geneva SUI – 12th July 2015

The Costs:

• Race Entry £165 (Rimini) / £135 (Geneva) / £65 domestic
• Race Licence £35
• Travel £380 (Rimini) / £230 (Geneva)
• Accommodation £50 per night
• Food and Preparation £60

My Goal

My goal is simple – I want to be the best I can be – win national and international triathlon titles and develop into a top class international triathlete.

My return to international sport is a dream, and after having one of my true passions, sport, nearly taken away from me, I never intend to take being able to compete for granted; I aim to work as hard as I can to achieve my goals.

It is with the sponsorship from individuals and organisations like yours that I will have the opportunity to try and succeed in reaching my goal.

Through this project I am inviting you to be part of my dream to help me with financing my International Competitions.

Thank you for your support,

Natalie