Go for GOLD

Diane Kastama is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hi I am Diane Kastama I have been paralyzed for 23 years and love the sport of carriage driving. I have been selected pending approval of the USEF Ad Hoc Selection Committee to compete once again for the United States as part of a 3 person team at the 2014 FEI Para-Equestrian World Championships for single drivers to be held June 26-30th in Sandringham, England. I am trying to raise money to ship my specially modified carriage and horse to Europe. The costs to do this are overwhelming, I have leased horses and taken my own horse. As you can imagine being in a wheelchair and driving a strange horse at an International competition is difficult. And I have decided that the time and effort spent training to qualify is worth takeing my own horse to compete. Asking for people to donate money is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I appreciate everyone's support in my goal for going for Gold with Rupert.

I have been competing in the sport of carriage driving for 17 years, I discovered the sport after a car accident left me paralyzed. Horses allow me to compete on an equal basis with everyone else. I share my skill and enjoyment of the sport with everyone who asks, as a Board member of United States Driving for the Disabled, I support all people no matter their challenges in learning and trying the sport of carriage driving.

I currently compete at the Intermediate and Advanced level on an equal basis with all drivers..

Past International competition at Para-Equestrian World Championships
2002 Individual Silver, Team Bronze, Greven Germany - borrowed horse
2004 4th place finish - borrowed horse
2006 Individual Gold - My own horse
2008 Individual Gold, Team Silver - My own horse
2012 14th place - borrowed horse