Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this post.
My name is Tiaan and I am a paraplegic. I was involved in a motorbike accident in 1997 at the age of 17. I broke my back and have been confined to a wheelchair ever since, with impairment in motor and sensory function of the lower extremities.
I have always been a keen sportsman before and after my accident and have recently tried wheelchair racing. The coach recognises potential in me but without my own custom made racing wheelchair, I will be unable to progress to international competition standard. I am asking for your help to raise £3000. This will cover the wheelchair, an extra set of racing wheels, training rollers and gloves. It will also contribute towards to cost of travelling to where the chair will be custom made. I need your moral, emotional and financial support. The funds will be used to have a wheelchair custom made to size. As well as an extra set of wheels, training rollers and gloves.
Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability: amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted (when combined with another disability). Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their disability or combinations of disabilities. Like running, it can take place on a track or as a road race. I have been assessed by the UK Athletics medical team and have been classified to race in the T53 category.
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Just a little about my sporting past.
I have been taking part in sports competitively from the age of 7. I took part in cross country and received my Mpumalanga colours 10 times and Cape colours twice. From the age of about 15 I started competing in shorter distances on track and field. I was accepted on a USA scholarship and received a sports bursary at the Pretoria University. Unfortunately on the 6 November 1997 I had a motorbike accident where I broke my back which left me paralyzed. I tried sports like hand cycling but always wanted to get back on the track.
As you can see, I know how to compete, I know how to push myself and I know what it takes to reach the top and achieve my dreams.

Extract from my current coach - UKA Level 3 – Sprints.
I have recently been introduced to Tiaan, who contacted me with regards to wheelchair racing. I have been able to provide a spare chair for Tiaan to use, but unfortunately this chair is not really suited to Tiaan and will not be that beneficial to him in the long run.
I would imagine that initial, realistic targets for Tiaan could be competing on the UK circuit in 2013 and posting times that are on a par with National Standards. If successful, Tiaan should be able to compete internationally through 2014. The long term goal would be the World Championships in 2015 and then the Paralympics in 2016.
To enable Tiaan to develop within wheelchair racing and to challenge his potential effectively, he will really need a purpose built chair that will support his physical requirements.

Thank you again for all your support
Tiaan