Join Jackie’s Climb: Overcoming Challenges

Hello, friends! I am helping my daughter raise funds to help with her expenses as she travels with the Paraclimbing Team USA.

As many of our friends know, Jackie is a prenatal stroke survivor. As a result of the stroke, Jackie was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia (verified via MRI) a form of brain damage that led to a subsequent diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. As a result, Jackie has had to work harder at tasks that many of her peers can perform with ease. She has endured several surgeries throughout her young life, mostly on her left foot. This has left her dealing with chronic pain and decreased sensation on that foot.

Jackie began climbing in February 2024 at an adaptive climbing clinic being held for individuals with disabilities. Jackie fell in love with the sport. Not only has this activity been physically therapeutic for her as, it has also been a boost to her self-confidence.

Jackie attended her first climbing fair just 2 months later. From there, she was hooked on the idea of competing at a higher level. She started to train more seriously after that event. She competed in her first major event in March 2025 in Oakland, CA., at the national Paraclimbing competition. Jackie won the Bronze medal in her category, and it gave her a spot on the USA National Paraclimbing Team.

In May, 2025, Jackie participated in a World Cup competition along with a training camp in Salt Lake City. These experiences are preparing Jackie to compete at the world level in the very near future.

As a member of the Paraclimbing Team USA, Jackie will have the added responsibility of paying for her traveling expenses. This is in addition to her current expenses of maintaining her membership at the gym and additional climbing equipment. Climbing shoes are one of the largest expenses for equipment. The reason for that is because Jackie has to buy two pairs of shoes to match her significantly mismatched foot sizes. She has to wear the exact size she needs on each foot. So instead of paying $100 for a pair of shoes, Jackie is forced to pay double the amount in order to have the proper size on each foot.

In addition to training several evenings each week, Jackie is a full-time college student and she works at least 30 hours at Cracker Barrel.

I know Jackie will be very appreciative of any financial help and prayers as she pursues her dreams of climbing professionally as a Paraclimber.