My name is Rio Schafer, and I am fundraising to represent Team Canada at the 2022 Junior Pan American Squash Championships. The Pan American Squash Championships are being held in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I am leaving Victoria on the 28th of July, and the tournament runs from July 31st-August 5th. The championship tournament includes both singles and doubles competitions. Our team consists of 4 boys, 4 girls, and two coaches from around the country.

Playing for the national team has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, and I’m so excited to have this opportunity that I’ve worked so hard for. Squash Canada subsidizes part of the costs, but athletes are responsible for paying $3,000 for the flights and other expenses. I've been working at a supermarket and a restaurant for the past two years to save up for university, but I wasn’t counting on this additional squash expense. This opportunity is a dream come true for me, and any financial support to help a junior national team athlete achieve his goal would be greatly appreciated.

If you would like to follow my journey, I will be documenting my preparation and experience at the tournament on [email redacted]am.squash

I earned my spot on the team through my performances at tournaments throughout the year and by finishing fifth at the Junior World Trials, with everyone who placed above me attending the Junior World Championships. This year, I’ve won my local squash club’s adult tournament, the Cedar Hill Club Championships. Also, I finished third at provincials and ninth at nationals under 19. I have made huge strides this year, going from outside the top 20 to being currently ranked ninth for boys under 19 in Canada. This year, I have made an enormous effort to make the team with countless hours of training and improvement. This accomplishment makes me proud because, at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t even in consideration by Squash Canada for the team. In addition to being selected for the team, my performances this year have helped me attend Western University next year to play for Western’s varsity squash team and to study Economics.

Here’s a bit of a backstory about me. I have grown up in Victoria, BC. Since I was old enough to walk, I’ve been playing sports, including soccer, squash, basketball, and volleyball. I’m 18, and I just graduated from Reynolds Secondary School. I’ve played squash since I was six years old, and it’s been a significant part of shaping who I am as an athlete and a person. I’ve trained at Cedar Hill Squash Club all my life, a member-owned club that runs out of the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.

I’ve worked since I was 16, first at Save-On-Foods, and, more recently, as a server at Lot 1 Pasta Bar and Famoso Pizzeria. I have had to balance school, sports and work for the past couple of years. I take pride in my academics and school life, averaging a 4.0 GPA (Straight A’s) throughout high school and being awarded the Spirit of Reynolds in grades 11 and 12, given to students who positively influence the school.

I’ve worked extremely hard to achieve my goals. I’m so happy that I’ve been selected to represent Canada at an international tournament, and it's an experience I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Donations to help me financially are hugely impactful in helping me realize this dream. In return, I will post about my journey during my time in Bolivia to give you all a look into the experience of an international tournament at 2,500 metres in altitude with participants from across North and South America.