Help Chucky Lee Ray get to the World Cup in Australia
Donation protected
I would be most appreciative if you could please consider my request for financial help to get to the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in 2025 in Brisbane, Australia.
Who am I?
I am Charlie & I am 17. I play for Exeter Junior Roller Derby, training at St. James School & St. Luke’s School, both in Exeter. I have been skating since I was 5 years old & playing roller derby since I was 9 years old when my mum (Kate Garrard) started the Exeter Junior Roller Derby team to provide a local activity & give young people in our area an alternative sport to try, and I have recently been selected to represent our country in the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in 2025.
Why I Need Support
I play roller derby at the highest level in the UK and am looking to participate in the 2025 World Cup representing team GB in Brisbane, Australia. I was selected and played in the 2023 World Cup in Valence, France where team GB gained a highly credible 5th place in the world. I was 15 when I was selected & was the only skater from the whole of the South West to be selected for the tournament and was playing against youths up to 19 years of age.
The 2023 World Cup in France was fully funded by parents due to being fairly local in proximity. We drove the distance in our Sprinter van & slept in it throughout the duration. Unfortunately, this just isn’t possible to get to Australia. This is the last year I will be eligible to play for Team GB Juniors, as I will have aged out after the 2025 World Cup. I am asking for support for the 2025 World Cup because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to both visit Australia and represent our nation in the process. Due to the distance, it is obviously a much greater financial challenge for my family to achieve. My mum who has supported me throughout my entire derby career will be coming as well, she is also one of the Team GB Juniors coaches & she will of course be supporting me in Australia.
The Magnitude of the Effort
Having investigated pricing, we expect the financial commitment to be £4,000 per person (£8,000 to cover both myself & my mum). That is roughly £2,000 flights, £1,000 accommodation, £300 insurance (both travel insurance and specialist medical insurance), travel on the ground in Brisbane £200, £500 contingency. As you will see, there is no payment for coaches or team managers etc, all coaches are volunteers and have to fund their own expenses.
What is roller derby?
Roller derby is a roller skating contact sport played on an oval track by two teams of skaters. A game is 60 minutes long, split into 2 halves and is a series of 2 minute “jams”. Each team, typically with a roster of 15, fields five skaters during each jam, one jammer with the designated star on their helmet and 4 blockers. The jammer is the point scorer, they score a point for each opposing blocker that they lap. Blockers simultaneously defend to hinder the opposing jammer whilst also playing “offence” by manoeuvring to aid their own jammer. I am one of the jammers for our team.
Why am I fundraising now?
I want to start fundraising now because we want to tie down our flights, accommodation, et cetera to avoid the last minute booking price rises, also so that we have the peace of mind that we have reached our funding goals so we can focus on training and the logistics leading to the event. My mum & I have various fundraising plans including clothing collections and tombola’s to be held at local events as well as earning money with weekend jobs.
We have created a video which can be viewed on the link below so you can see exactly what we do. We are sure you will see what a great opportunity this is for us to represent Exeter, Devon and Great Britain on the international stage and for you to help us make it happen.
We have never needed to fund raise in this way or to this magnitude before, so any advice or guidance that you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. We are most appreciative for your consideration in this matter and would be really appreciative of any support you may be able to offer.
Kindest regards,
Charlie Garrard (& Kate Garrard)
Organizer
Kate Garrard
Organizer
England