Hello! My name is Mikaela, and I have been passionate about paddling since I was 8 years old. I began with outrigger paddling, and soon after, I discovered my love for dragon boat racing. This journey has been a significant part of my life, and it has led me to an incredible opportunity that I’ve been working towards for over half of my life.

I am proud to share that I’ve recently been selected to represent Team USA on the 18U Dragon Boat Team! I will be traveling to Brandenburg, Germany, in July to compete in the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Dragon Boat Racing Championships (WDBRC). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete on a global stage, and I couldn’t be more excited to take on this challenge. The competition will take place from July 14-20, and I will be in Germany from July 12-21.

While this is an exciting and pivotal moment in my "paddling career," the cost of travel, accommodation, and competition expenses is substantial. I am reaching out through this GoFundMe campaign to ask for your support in helping me get to Germany and represent our country with pride. Any contribution, big or small, will make a huge difference and bring me one step closer to achieving this lifelong dream.

Your generosity will help cover costs such as flights, accommodation, meals, and other team-related expenses. I am deeply grateful for any support, and I promise to give my absolute best both on and off the water in this international competition.

Thank you so much for considering helping me make this dream a reality. Your support means the world to me, and I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you!

With gratitude,

Mikaela Jean Lokelani Ginevra