Hi my name is Alex Hayes and I have Autism and an intellectual disability and play cricket for the Western Australian Intellectual Disability Team. My journey with cricket started 7 years ago when I went to a come and try day at the WACA, I was 11 years old and now I’m 18. Since then cricket has been everything to me. I have learnt so much from doing cricket, it has given me confidence, helps me socially, I’ve learnt a skill, made friends, and has given me so many opportunities and experiences like playing for Western Australia for the Intellectual Disability team. Last year was my second year playing for the State team and I did some fundraising to get everyone on the ID team, Blind and low vision team and Deaf and Hard of hearing team (45 players in total) a state jumper and kit bag. Unfortunately I didn’t raise enough for the kit bags but everyone received a hoody and were very grateful. We looked amazing and that was thanks to the many companies, individuals and friends that donated to help me achieve my goal to help all the players, it was very special to have one each. (Picture is above)

This year I would like to raise enough to add to my fundraising left over from last year to purchase a state kit bag for every player to take away for the National competition this season. To be able to have a kit bag that shows we represent Western Australia would mean so much to all the players and is something I really want to achieve and am passionate about.

If you did donate last season thank you again and I hope you will be able to support me again this season. If you have never donated before I would really appreciate any donation big or small to help me achieve my goal for my fellow players on all inclusion teams. It really does mean so much to all of us, it helps us feel like we belong to not just a team but a big family!

I thank you for your donations.

from Alex