Help Team Hoodi Reach the World Championships
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$2,833 raised of $7.8K
49 donations
Our Dream: Help Team Hoodi Represent Nigeria on the World Stage!
Hello everyone! We are Jasmin Hashi and Harold Woods III, and together, we are Team Hoodi, Nigeria's mixed doubles curling team. This is more than a sport for us. It's a journey of passion, resilience, and a deep honor to represent our heritage on the world stage.
Our stories begin like many others. I, Jasmin, first saw curling on TV in 1998, a super fan of the Olympics even as a young gymnast. Years later, while living far from family, I saw it again and thought, "If they can do it, so can I." That moment lit a fire that led me to the ice, and eventually, to leave my life in Los Angeles and relocate to Charlotte for the opportunity to train with Harold. I work hard, juggling several jobs to help finance this dream, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
For me, Harold, it was also the Olympics that first caught my eye. Back in 2010, while playing college football at Benedict College, I saw curling on TV and thought, "There's nothing they're physically doing that I can't do." A few years later, my job took me past a curling club, and I knew I had to get inside. I went to an open house, excelled, and was soon skipping two winning leagues. My hard work on the ice led me to be recruited for Team Nigeria, where I met Jasmin.
Our paths finally crossed in Seattle at a curling tournament, where we found a shared passion for the sport and our Nigerian heritage. We discovered our last names are both five letters long, and that if we took the first and last letters of my name and the middle three of hers, we could spell out a word: H-O-O-D-I. It was kismet, especially since we both practically live in our hoodies.
Team Hoodi competes on the World Curling Federation international circuit every season, working toward the same goal: becoming the first curling team from the African continent to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games. As a two-person team, we shoulder most of the costs ourselves, travel, competition fees, coaching, and equipment. Every season brings a new set of qualifying events and championships, and every donation helps us get there. See our latest Update below for what we're working toward right now.
By contributing to our campaign, you're not just supporting a curling team. You're helping two athletes from Charlotte, North Carolina work toward a historic first. Thank you for helping us achieve our dream. Let's make it happen together.
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