My name is Blake Wetherell, and live in Arlington! I'm 11 years old and was introduced to soccer at 3 years old and haven't put down a soccer ball yet.

I've played soccer for my school's rec soccer team and a local Premier League soccer team. Last year, I ventured out of my small hometown and tried out for a travel soccer team out of Albany, NY. This year, my two teammates and I made the U13 EAL soccer team. If you can't tell, soccer is all of our lives!

My teammates and I train constantly, on and off the pitch. In our free time, it's soccer in our backyard, summer soccer camps non-stop.

Recently, my teammates and I joined a training camp at Levante U.D. For three days, we practiced for 3 hours each day, with one day practicing for two 3-hour long sessions. At the end of these practices, we were chosen and given scholarships to participate in the International Program in Valencia, Spain. We are all so excited!

The trip to Spain is mostly covered by the scholarship, but the airfare and a few other needs are not included. I am looking to raise money to help with the cost of roundtrip airfare for me to attend this amazing opportunity to showcase our skill and talent, and practice at an elite training facility in Spain with some of the best coaches and talent around! We will gain knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime.

My teammates and I all have the same ambition and hope to continue our soccer careers throughout high school, play college soccer, and hope to, in some capacity, play or be part of an MLS soccer team. We know we have the skills and talent to make our dreams come true. This trip to Spain will provide us with connections to coaches and training personnel and the ability to learn from some of the greatest coaches and players in Spain.

If you can, please help send me to Spain!