Help Leia Compete for Team USA in Thailand

Absolutely — here’s a heartfelt and motivational version of Leia’s story for a GoFundMe campaign:

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Help Leia Represent Team USA at the Virtus World Swimming Championships in Thailand!

Meet Leia — a determined, vibrant 15-year-old who’s not just chasing her dreams, but swimming toward them with unstoppable passion.

Leia is autistic and lives with muscular dystrophy, a condition that limits her mobility. But that hasn’t stopped her. In fact, it’s what led her to discover the one place where she feels completely free — the water.

She first dove into swimming back in 2020, during the COVID lockdowns, when it was one of the only activities available. What started as simple exercise quickly became her lifeline — a way to move, grow stronger, and express herself. Over time, Leia’s love for the sport grew into a full-blown passion. She joined a swim club and has risen to the top of her class, proving time and again that limits are only what you believe they are.

In November 2024, Leia competed at the AWL National Championships in Orlando, Florida — and made waves with 5 gold and 2 silver medals! Her extraordinary performance earned her a coveted spot to represent Team USA at the 2025 Virtus World Swimming Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of Athletes Without Limits. Leia is one of just five female swimmers chosen from across the country — and this will be her very first time flying.

This opportunity is life-changing — not just for the medals or recognition, but for what it represents: inclusion, perseverance, and the power of dreaming big no matter the odds.

But getting there isn’t easy.

Leia is raised by a single mom — a 100% disabled U.S. military veteran — and while they’re both incredibly grateful and proud, the cost of this trip is more than they can afford alone.

That’s where you come in.

We’re raising funds to help cover:

• Airfare & travel expenses

• Accommodations in Thailand

• Team USA uniforms & gear

• Meals & local transportation

• Any additional accessibility needs

Your support — whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this page — means the world. You’re not just helping Leia get to Thailand. You’re helping her show the world what courage, strength, and resilience truly look like.

Thank you for believing in Leia — and for helping her swim toward a future full of possibility.

Let’s get her to Bangkok. Let’s make waves.

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