Esmee is heading to the Ironman World Championships in Kona—against all odds, and on a homemade sugar solution!

After rupturing her ACL in 2022, Esmee’s hockey days were over. So, she picked up a bike, started swimming, and somehow turned a setback into a shot at the biggest race in triathlon.

In just two years, she’s completed two 70.3s, tackled a two-thirds Ironman (thanks to a cancelled swim), and most recently qualified for the World Championships by finishing 1st in her age group and 4th female overall at Ironman Port Macquarie. Not bad for someone who’s in bed by 8pm every night and makes her own carb drink to dodge expensive race nutrition.

She’s Dutch. She’s an animal on the bike. Most people think she’s nuts (they’re not wrong). But now she’s earned a place on the world stage—and we want to help her get there.

The costs to compete are steep (especially when you’re starting a PhD on a minimum wage, trying to cure cancer):

Esmee has done the hard part—now we’re backing her to the finish line. Every donation helps, no matter the size. Let’s get her (and her sugar solution) to Kona!