Help me support UK Student Athlete's compete in the USA!

Hello, and thank you for visiting my GoFundMe appeal.

I’m an Athletics Coach (with 20+ years’ experience) and work to help athletes to reach their potential and achieve their goals, whether that be for a specific event, time or to compete at the highest levels. I also specialise in helping amputees reach the pinnacle of sprint performance, having coached Gold Medal winning Paralympians Jonnie Peacock (GBR) and Richard Browne Jr (USA). I work with amputees of all running levels, from keen athletes wanting help developing their ability to run with professional blades, to those who simply want help with being able to jog.

Whilst Coaching is how I earn a living, everything I do is a passion. A passion to help others be the best that they can be, to help them achieve their goals, or to help someone realise they can run again, perhaps after a terrible accident or illness. Whether able-bodied or carrying a mental or physical impairment, I love helping people to better themselves & exceed their own expectations.

One of my proudest positions is being Lead Sprints Coach for Cambridge University Athletic Club, which I have been successfully doing every year since 2007/2008 - most of this time as a volunteer around my study and other work. As part of this, I have been lucky enough to be involved in the Transatlantic Series which sees rivals Cambridge (CUAC) & Oxford (OUAC) compete together (Achilles Team) against the formidable forces of Harvard/Yale and Penn/Cornell.

Every 4 years, the Achilles Team travel out to the USA to take on the combined teams of Harvard & Yale as well as Penn & Cornell. In 2013 and 2017 I was lucky enough to be asked to travel with the team to provide coaching support for the duration of the tour as a volunteer.

Duties include, but are not exclusive to:

• Facilitating athlete/personal coach training programmes.

• Overseeing training for a team of 35+ students from across a number of athletic disciplines.

• Organising & leading training sessions.

• Assisting the travelling Team Physio with injury prevention/rehab work.

• Assisting Team Managers with selections.

• Assisting the Tour Directors with travel, training & competition day logistics.

• Attending team/match meetings.

• Attending 2x competitions (very long days!).

• Enduring some very long and tiresome bus journeys.

• Taking care of general student needs.

The travelling students gain an awful lot from the trip and as I have experience of this type of tour as well as extensive coaching experience, I have also been asked to join them again this year!!

So, why the GoFundMe appeal? Well, whilst the University subsidises a small amount of the cost of the trip, there are a lot of costs that aren’t covered and I am required to travel and provide my services for two weeks as a volunteer.

We’ve all seen the cost of everything going up by a huge amount in recent years, and this is true of the cost of this trip, on top of which I will also lose my income for the two weeks that I am supporting the team as I am self-employed. These two combined means that I will struggle to afford the costs of the trip on my own.

I’ve never been one to ask for financial support, in any form, from anyone, ever. I really want to support the wonderful opportunities that I believe this trip can provide, but I hope that you understand how difficult this would be unaided.

This GoFundMe appeal is only to support me to make the trip and support the Team, whilst not having the worry of how I will pay my everyday bills.

Any support you can give, however large or small the amount, will be greatly appreciated and you will forever have my deepest gratitude and that of the team.

Thank you,

Coach Hayley