I am the coach of Brianna Hennessy, an Ottawa born Paralympic athlete in the sport of sprint canoe/ kayak. In 2014, at age 29, Bri’s life changed forever when a speeding taxi left her with a broken neck, permanent brain damage, and paralyzed from the chest down.

But Bri didn’t stop. She fought her way back — and in 2024, she won silver at the Paris Paralympics, just 1.2 seconds from gold and carried the flag for Canada at the closing ceremonies.

Now she’s chasing gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. But a new challenge stands in her way: funding. Costs continue to rise and funding from the Canadian Sport system alone can no longer meet the requirements of the athletes; especially para athletes who have increased support needs for training and competition.

Instead of stepping back, we’re stepping up to the funding challenge— and reaching out to the larger community for help to keep Brianna’s dream alive. Every donation helps Brianna move closer to her goal of winning gold for Canada!