My name is Amelia, and I’m 16 years old. This fall, I’ve been given the chance of a lifetime — to row with my Women’s Varsity 8+ boat at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. It’s one of the biggest and most prestigious rowing races in the world, and I feel so honored and excited to be a part of it.

Rowing is more than just a sport for me. It’s early mornings at the gym, evening practices on the water and land, hours of hard work with my teammates, and learning how far I can push myself. It’s also the friendships and the feeling of flying across the water when everything finally clicks. Being invited to the Head of the Charles feels like all of that effort is paying off — but it’s also just the beginning of what I hope will be a lifelong journey in this sport.

The challenge is that getting there is very expensive. Between travel, lodging, food, and race costs, it’s more than my family can manage on our own right now. My rowing club is fundraising by selling cookies, but those funds are shared with the whole team. This page is just for me, so that I can cover my own part of the expenses and make this dream possible.

If you’re able to help, no matter the amount, it would mean the world to me. Every dollar will go directly toward my trip to Boston so I can race with my teammates and represent all the hard work we’ve put in this season.

Thank you so much for reading and for supporting me in chasing this opportunity. I’m so grateful for my family, friends, and community who are cheering me on every step of the way.

With love and gratitude,

Amelia