Thanks  so much for making time to visit my JustGiving page. I'm raising money for the charity SportsAid to help young, unfunded athletes to overcome one of their greatest barriers to success - the financial challenge of trying to become Britain’s next generation of Olympians, Paralympians and world champions.

Please will you donate a minimum of £5 and support the future Jessica Ennis-Hill’s, Laura Trott's, Ellie Simmonds, Tom Daley's and Louis Smith’s - the Paris and Tokyo Olympians?

Every week since I was 13, I've been travelling for hours after school and at weekends to train and compete. This winter it will be around 300 miles per week by rail, tram and bus. Balancing this with my studies takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice, but it has been worth it. I ended this season with a bronze medal over 400m at the Commonwealth Youth Games, as World youth lead over 300m, as national under 17 champion over 200m and as UK number one (U17W) over 200m, 300m and 400m and number two over 100m. At my age - 16 - there is no sponsorship in athletics so I rely on the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' and money from babysitting.

This year I have been lucky enough to receive some support from SportsAid via Nelsons. My athletics costs 2016-17 were more than £7000. Next year they are set to rise as I am now travelling further for training. 

My costs aren't unusual.  Lack of finances is the main reason for drop off in all sports. If you can't afford to get to training regularly, buy essential kit, travel to competitions or see a physio you cannot achieve your potential.

I hope you will be able to donate a minimum of £5 to SportsAid, but a BIG thank you for anything you are able to afford to give to help the next generation. 

Jessica Ennis, Chris Hoy, Adam Peaty, Christine Ohuruogu, Bradley Wiggins, Ellie Simmonds, Lizzie Yarnold, Dina Asher-Smith, Jade Jones, Laura Trott and Louis Smith are just a few of the many athletes who SportsAid supported when they were teenagers.

SportsAid helps over 1,000 athletes across more than 60 sports each year, the majority aged 12 to 18, by providing them with an average award of £1,000. SportsAid Week is a fundraising drive designed to support the next generation of athletes striving to represent Team GB and ParalympicsGB at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

All the money raised assists young sports stars with training and competition costs, including equipment, accommodation and transport, during the critical early stages of their careers. 

The money raised during SportsAid Week will help to support athletes in many different ways - no matter how big or small the amount! They don't just feel the impact of SportsAid's backing financially though - they also see the award as a motivational boost and a recognition of their talent as they look to progress forward with their careers.