We finally made Caryl Granville’s Dream of Representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games come true! Announced this week she has made the team travelling to the Gold Coast at the end of March.

After years of working so hard and facing set back after set back this is a major accomplishment for the both of us so to not be there for the culmination of our hard work would be devastating.

4 years ago Caryl was running extremely well over the hurdles, holding a Glasgow Commonwealth Games B standard. As part of her preparations and in order to gain a further qualification standard we raced at Loughborough Interational. As she came down the home straight landing off hurdle eight she felt a ‘pop’ in her foot and was in immense pain. The outcome a torn plantar fascia: A career threatening injury.

Following nearly 2 years out recovering and completing rehabilitation she finally returned back to full training. Taking it steady and building up her fitness things were starting to comeback together and it was all going well building a strong winter into the 2016 Season.

She was then called for surgery to have jaw realignment in early 2016 which again took her out of running training for another 6 months, and lost 10% of her body weight due to a liquid only diet. She managed to get out and race late in the season showing some good times for the training we had done.

Early indoor season she ran 600m and 60m Hurdles running a PB in both events, this showed she was now back in shape and ready to challenge for Commonwealth Qualifying. The biggest challenge would be keeping her healthy and injury free for the next 18 months.

2017 outdoor season was an ideal comeback season! She gained 4 Commonwealth B standard qualifications in the 400m Hurdles, and in her last race of the season she also managed to gain a B standard in the 100m Hurdles.

Yet again things were not in our favour with the committee deciding against initial selection. Caryl put together an excellent case for her appeal against the decision and got it over turned. She had done it, she was going to the games!

All the tearful conversations, keeping her focussed and motivated through those tough months of not being able to train, and managing her training programme had paid off.

She had booked her place on the plane, however the same cannot be said for myself. As a personal coach we do not get flights or accommodation via the Welsh Commonwealth Games Team or Welsh Athletics. We get a contribution towards the cost and then have to pay and arrange our own trip.

For myself this trip financially is not possible. In order for me to coach I work long unsociable hours part time and therefore the money would help me to get to the Gold Coast to support Caryl.

I hope you will be able to help me get to the Gold Coast and I thank you in advance for your support.