Help Anthony Martinez fufill his dreams.

My name is Anthony Martinez and I am a 17 year old goalkeeper who lives in Bay Shore, New York. I have always had dreams of playing soccer at the highest level possible but of course during these unprecedented times everything is much more difficult then a regular year.  With the NCAA dead period in effect recruiting has been more difficult than ever.  I have not received the exposure I believe I deserve, and the schools who have reached out to me are simply too expensive.  


Fortunately though a gap program in Valencia, Spain has offered me a spot for their upcoming season. This gap year program will give me the opportunity to come back to the United States after one year and play the highest level soccer the states have to offer. It will also give me the exposure to the highest level clubs Spain has to offer.  Below I have attached an essay which explains my story and the predicament I stand in. 


   My mom is a soldier. She may not have fought in a war, but she has been battling  Multiple Sclerosis for twelve years. She is now battling stage four Colorectal Cancer for the second time this year. My dream has always been to make my mother proud. She always said to me “One day your name will be up in the lights.” She never understood that it was her belief in me and my dreams were the light shining through me. 


   When I learned the news that my mother had been diagnosed with cancer, I ran to the hospital in fear of losing her that same day. I was sixteen years old, and a junior in high school who had zero knowledge about cancer and how it affected the body. The whole situation caused me an unbearable amount of stress. It also left me asking God so many questions: Why my mother? Why have you caused my mother and my family so much pain? What can I do to stop her pain? Day after day I would ask these questions knowing I will never get a response. That's until I actually started to speak to God. 


   Unfortunately on November 14th, 2020 doctors found that the cancer had spread to her heart, ovaries and lungs. She currently has stage 4 cancer in all of those areas and has a 4% survival rate of living the next four years. Thinking of a life without my mother doesn't seem real. I'm afraid that she won't see me graduate high school; I'm afraid that my mom won't ever get to meet her future grandkids; I'm afraid that my mother won't be around to see me play in my first college game. I'm petrified of life without my mother as my guiding light. Instead of sitting in my room depressed and crying all the time, I try to live the best life I can. I want to put a smile on everyone's face even though I know I'm not okay. I try to keep myself busy and focus on other activities. I still play for multiple soccer teams,  being the #1 ranked men's futsal in the United States, the others being my Varsity team and my travel team. I am a starter for both those teams and the captain for both teams. School has been more challenging for me this year, particularly with the pandemic, but I continue to strive for greatness. 


    In addition to my own personal goals, One of my goals is to help other people. I am a personal trainer and I help people battle eating disorders, just like I battled obesity and anorexia. All of the road blocks I have faced over the years; from my mother’s disabilities, to me battling eating disorders, to not have parents who can assist me in my daily grind, have all made me the leader and person that I am today. 


   Everyone faces pitfalls in life and every individual has to figure out how to overcome them. As the great Michael Jordan once said “If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you.” My mother is a soldier and will beat cancer again, and I will continue to be the best person I can be during these unprecedented times. I am still the son my mother always wanted me to be and I am her pride and joy.


   With that being said all the money that will be raised will be going straight to the Eture program in Valencia, Spain. This will cover all of the expenses including food, travel, dorm, clothes, and training facilities. I have been given the opportunity to have a roster spot on one of the top gap year programs in the world. They have also offered me scholarship. The only difficulty is the expense are still very high, in which my family can not simply cover. 

Anything would help the cause, and it would truly mean a lot to me. Thank you for your time and listening to my story. Have a great
day.

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