Audrey to the African Arnolds

I am a 32-year-old single mom who lives in the high density suburb of Glen Norah in Harare, Zimbabwe. I was introduced to powerlifting last summer by the charity Lift4Life and my life has been completey changed.

I have recently been invited to compete in the Arnold Classic in Africa taking place May 19th in Johannesburg, and I need your help to make this dream a reality. I will be competing as a 72kg Open Lifter under South Africa. 

The sport of powerlifting is providing me the opportunity to make change, and help combat some of the problems in my country. You can read more about my experience here.

Despite the challenges we face in Zimbabwe, nothing can shake my resolve to get other ladies as empowered to lift as I have been. I hope to travel to the Arnolds to lead by example and show that anyone regardless of age, economic status, or race can powerlift. I know it
will not happen overnight, but every journey starts with only one step. And if I see only just one more lady lifting, it is a ray of hope in Zimbabwe that all shall be well.

That is me teaching my daughter Kimberly how to lift for the first time. 

I am progressing in my lifting each week, and I was recently selected for coaching sponsorship under MeepSquad to train me. I am passionate about building an entire community in Zimbabwe around powerlifting. I volunteer hosting weekly powerlifting workshops and classes travelling to 3 different communities in Harare teaching others how to lift, and last month directed and organized the first ever inter-community powerlifting meet in the country with over 50 participants. `I was also involved in the establishment of the first ever Lift4Life female gym, and I am now a founding member of the Zimbabwe Powerlifting Federation working hard for their country to be recognized under the IPF soon.

Your help and support is greatly appreciated, and I want to make the powerlifting community proud. Your donations will all be put towards my travels to South Africa and transportation within the country, my accommodation, my meet entry fee, as well as funds to purchase a powerlifting belt that I can compete with.  Lift4Life team member Nicola Paviglianiti is assisting with the trip, and any extra funds will be donated back to support other female lifters in Zimbabwe through small scholarships or the purchase of localpowerlifting gym equipment. 

There is something special about being able to move things that I was once not able to. I look forward to each day of powerlifting and the great possibilities that come with it, and training has become so much fun. I've gained physical and metal strength, confidence, and greatest of them all I've gained entry into one of the greatest communities. The powerlifting community is filled with so much love and support for everyone.  
 

Above is a photo taken from the first ever ZPF meet in Zimbabwe I directed. 

Here is a video of some of my squats in my Lift4Life donated gym in Glen Norah.