Main fundraiser photo

Helping Andy play for Australia

Donation protected

Andy is a Table Tennis player - He's 17, and in his last year as a "Junior". I've recently started back competitively and started to hear Andy's story, and as my training partner (and student) I have started to hear this kid's humble story and why he's trying so hard this year - and what Table Tennis and his abilities mean to his family.

Andy's Background:
 - Andy lives at home with his parents, he's finished school
- Dad was a chef who recently had the restaurant he works at closed
 - Mum stays at home to look after his physically handicapped Brother
 - They are living off govt benefits but doing everything they can to support Andy (through Newstart) to reach his goal.

I have since found out that they have made some incredible sacrifices just to give their son a chance at something fantastic - from his Dad driving him to table tennis training, and not driving home to save fuel - waiting 3-4 hours in the car until Andy finishes to save money.

I have found out that his Dad is also an AVID table tennis player who deeply wishes he could play - but they cannot afford 2x memberships and 2x lots of fees to allow both him and his son to play, so he sacrifices his own want so his son can Achieve.

Andy has not played any recent national junior championships - because the family cannot support his travel and accomodation costs in order to have him attend. This year, I want to help to make sure he gets to the championships, can afford to play, attend, and reach his goal - but in a way that is not going to put a family that is already experiencing hardship through an even tougher time!

Andy's Goal:

Andy wants to represent QLD and hopefully be good enough to be given an Australian team position. This is not an uninformed goal - he recently was given a "wildcard" into the national junior top 10 tournament, and with absolutely no history or seeding at national level beat 2x Australian team players and got ranked 5th (1 win away from 2nd place).

If he happens to make the Australian team - a whole avenue of funding and sponsorship opportunities await him.  It means he can get all of his table tennis gear, his training, and a large amount of his travel subsidised by the govt and the national associations - he just needs to get there first!

Fundraising Goal:

I have asked for $2000 - I feel like this is an accurate goal which can help Andy Achieve the following:

 - New Bat, fully assembled (~$300)
 - Membership and Insurance for the year (~$200)
 - Training costs to use club facilities for a year (~$400)
 - State QLD Uniforms for nationals (~$200)
 - Travel and Accomodation for both the QLD State C'Ships (Gold coast - Accomodation $200) and Australian Junior Championships (Townsville -1 week, $500 approx)

This leaves about $200 - This I would LOVE to be able to pass on to the club for Andy's Dad - so we can pay for his club membership and insurance so that he can hopefully enjoy the sport he loves as well.


Andy does not yet know about this effort so those that know him please keep it on the D.L - He is a humble, mature young man who understands the sacrifices his family has made for him to perform at an elite level and has absolutely no expectation placed on them. I hope with your generosity, we can take away that responsibility from a struggling family and give a Young Sports Star the chance to be the best he can be.

Donations 

  • Mo J
    • $50 
    • 6 yrs
  • Toni Ly
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs

Organizer

Dan O'Neill
Organizer
Lutwyche QLD

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.