Preface: There are thousands of charities and organizations out there that are raising money for causes and events and by all means please donate to them first, but if you still want to help me alleviate some of the expenses of traveling to Kona, I’m truly grateful for your support. This was set up to be a fun and supportive place for family and friends to come and share in my journey, if you do not agree with that, I completely understand and respect your opinions. Thank you.

I can’t describe how amazing it feels to have qualified for the IRONMAN World Championships on October 11, 2014 in Kona, Hawaii. Since beginning to compete in triathlons 6 years ago, I have always dreamed of racing at Kona. On Saturday June 29th, I qualified for the World Championships by taking 17th overall and 1st in my 25-29 M Age group. Now the dream has just begun. Crossing that finish line in Kona will be the next step.

Each year I have raced IRONMAN, I have improved my time. I have never stopped working as hard as I can. IRONMAN and the sport of triathlon go way beyond just the races, they help mold and change lives in the process. I’ve met so many amazing people along the way and have heard some of the most inspiring stories of people overcoming adversity in their lives. I hope that somewhere along my journey of starting out in the sport to getting to the IRONMAN World Championships, I have inspired somebody as well. All it takes is one person for it to be worth it.

While racing at IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene, running the last .25 miles down Sherman Avenue brought up so many emotions. I cried the whole way down the street, while slapping high fives with the crowd. I knew how much I had sacrificed and how badly I wanted this. It was finally mine for the taking. I felt on top of the world.

It’s funny how fast reality sets in. First thing Monday morning at the awards ceremony, IRONMAN makes you pull out the credit card and pay for your Kona race registration. $875. Boom. Just like that.

I put in a lot of emotion, effort and money into getting to IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene and now I want to make sure I am able to do the same on the big island in October. For those who don’t know, triathlon is a very expensive hobby. The majority of the IRONMAN athletes are between the ages of 35-45, many whom have 6 digit salaries to support their addiction. I’m not so fortunate in that regard, but its my passion and I love competing so I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve put in the hard work to qualify and will work even harder to train for the Championships, but I could use your help. I would be forever grateful if you can help me raise some funds to make my way to Kona. Whether its $5 or $500, anything will help. I know there are a lot of great causes and fundraisers out there, but if you’re able to give a little more I’d truly appreciate it. If you can’t afford to give any money, you can help in other ways; your words of encouragement, support and prayers go much further than any amount of money could. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this journey with me.

Again, every little bit helps (yes, even $5 will go a long way). In return I promise to dedicate all my emotion and energy into getting across that finish line, while inspiring others along the way. I’m continually looking for sponsors and partnerships so if you know of any companies or brands who may be interested please let me know.

Help me get to Kona by clicking here!

Any money raised beyond my goal will be donated to THE COOKIE PROJECT which is dedicated to promoting safe driving and responsible cycling by baking cookies for the residents that live along highly ridden cycling routes.