Hello everyone, if you're reading this thank you for your time. To start, I've been playing the Pokemon TCG since about 2015 and have always loved the thrill of competing as well as meeting new people. Since about 2017 I've been struggling with both physical and mental health and Pokemon has served as a therapeutic hobby for me. This year, I have amassed enough Championship Points to earn my Invite to the 2023 Pokemon World Championships in Yokohama, Japan, something only 174 people in the country have accomplished this year. (You can skip these next paragraphs if you don't care about the details of my illness and Pokemon career.)

I've always been pretty competitive but have never really had the means to travel to more than like a couple events a year. This changed in 2018 when I was able to attend 5 Regionals and get points at 4 of them as well as crushing some League Cups, one with more than 100 people in attendance! After perservering through the season, I was able to get enough points to attend the 2018 World Championship in Nashville, but all was not rainbows and glitter... The day before we left I started to experience the most intense pain ever, so much so that I couldn’t even walk. Still, we traveled to Nashville that Thursday and by the time we arrived I was bedridden in pain. On Friday morning my dad took me to the ER at Vanderbilt University Hospital where I was immediately admitted in lieu of checking in at Worlds. At the emergency room I remember answering some questions and then laying in a bed in the hallway for a few minutes and when I came to, I woke up in the ICU with a team of doctors telling me I was experiencing diabetic keto acidosis, had acute pancreatitis, and could have been fatal had I not come in. I was heartbroken about coming this close to competing in the World Championship but I had to admit defeat to the tougher opponent, pancreatitis. It was definitely disappointing working so hard all season just to be hospitalized during the pinnacle of all Pokemon events, but I tried to give it a try during the 2020 season.

When the 2019 season came along, I realistically just couldn't go to many events as it was a time where I didn't have a car and was basically at the mercy of my friends to go to anything. I amassed 189 by going to Philadelphia Regionals and a few cups but I ended up calling it quits and just played locally for the remainder of the season. As the season during over to the 2020 season, I had a car and slightly better finances and ended up going and playing in the DC Open where I got points and felt like I had a decent head start on the season. After topping a couple League Cups and winning a couple League Challenges I got 137 points and was ready to go to Knoxville for that regional. Unfortunately I fell ill and had to cancel that trip. My next event was Daytona and I was super excited for it as it's only like an hour from my house, however leading up to it I was passing gall stones every couple weeks and the weekend of that event I was in the hospital again and they decided to remove my gall bladder that weekend. After my health had taken those regionals from me, I decided it was a wrap for the season.

As the 2023 season started, I didn't expect much and I had another 2 week hospitalization due to pancreatitis again in January. After starting recovery and with Orlando Regionals on the horizon, I was debating whether to play in the event or judge it. With another hospitalization for blacking out in the gym just about a week before the event, I was leaning towards judging the event, but all my friends convinced me to play and I ended up making my first day 2 in years! Doing so as well as having amazing games throughout the two days reignited my competitive itch! Although unrealistic starting so late in the season, I decided if I didn't get points at Charlotte that I would give up for the season. At Charlotte I ended up getting destroyed and was content with it honestly, but then Pokemon announced that local level events would be back and the point requirement was lowered from 500 to 350. Eager to compete again, I gave it my all both in the game and financially. After winning a cup and another day 2 at Hartford as well as some points for not day 2ing at Portland it all came down to my performance at NAIC. I needed top 256 to secure the invite and my deck struggled throughout the whole day but with insane play from me rounds 7 and 8 as well as being blessed to have my opponent brick game 2 in round 9 I ended at 6-3 which gave me enough match points to get 232nd, which also gave me enough Championship Points for my 2023 Worlds Invite!

While I will be doing everything in my power and not sitting idly to attend, I don't believe I will have enough funds to be able to afford this trip, even with selling most of my possessions. My friends and family encouraged me to make this GoFundMe though I’m reluctant to ask. Going to Japan has been a dream, and to be able to compete there, where the game originated, in the actual World Championship, would be absolutely amazing. I am humbly asking that if it is within your financial means, no matter how small, that you help me achieve my dream again of playing in the World Championships!