Hi, I’m Bernice and I’m a 24 year old High Jumper. I’ve been passionate about my sport and participated in athletics competitions for the last 10 years. Four years ago I realised that I had more to achieve but needed to change my coach and training group if I were to fulfil my potential. I had bigger dreams and goals I new I could achieve.

Since then I’ve changed my mindset, environment and dedicated so much time to the sport. I’ve represented England at various internationals, competed and been placed at World Tour events and travelled abroad for competitions. All this I have done without financial support which has seen me juggling time between working and training. I know there is still so much that I want to achieve and am capable of achieving.

However, over the past 5 years I’ve been experiencing pain in my left ankle which has been getting more severe in intensity and episodes. After seeing numerous physios and managing the pain all this time I’ve finally had an MRI scan (at my own expense) which has shown a bone spur and significant scar tissue in my ankle. This has been causing pain, a severe lack of mobility in the ankle and prevented me from being able to utilise that leg effectively when high jumping. It’s now, not only affecting my athletics career, but my daily life too. A private consultant (again self -funded) has told me I require an operation to remove the spur and he strongly recommends this needs doing as soon as possible if I want to continue in my sport. As a slightly older athlete time isn’t on my side and it’s something which needs doing quickly if I want to recover and really make the most of my remaining time in athletics and achieve my goals.

Unfortunately my medical insurance won’t cover the cost of the operation privately and a struggling NHS will only put me on a waiting list which is at least two years long. The cost of the operation privately is £4770 (this includes the surgeon fee and hospital fees, but no after care costs) and as an unsponsored, self-funding athlete I don’t have the funds to cover this. I’d be so grateful if anyone could help donate to my ankle surgery fund to help me reach my goals and dreams in athletics. I know times are tough at the moment but any donation, however big or small, would make such a difference to me. Words can’t explain how desperately I need the surgery doing so I can experience my sport pain free and jump heights I and my coach, know I’m capable of.

Bernice xx