I need your help please.

I am looking for financial assistance to help me to take up my place on the British Team so I can compete at the 2019 AIDA Depth Freediving Depth World Championships that are being held in Villefranche sur Mer, France this September - https://aida-wc2019.com

I am totally self funded as there is no support available to athletes from the UK governing body and I have already supported myself for training and other depth competitions that all take place outside of the UK this season, but I just don't have the funds to do make it to the World Championships.

This is the 3rd time I have been selected to the team and I hope it will be the 3rd time I am there to represent Team GB. In the 2015 WCs I place 10th out of 30 women and in the 2017 WCs I placed 5th out of 31 women.

With your help, I'd like to see where I can place overall this year...

A bit of background info about me and what I do...

19 years ago I was on the verge of suicide. Today I lead a life that I could never have imagined possible while I was battling depression.

My mission is to spread my story and message that life is worth fighting for, that it is never too late and anything is possible, for anyone.

I am Helena Bourdillon. I have survived and triumphed over chronic depression and now I freedive to depths of -76m with my monofin and have represented GB at the World Championships twice so far, placing 10th and 5th overall respectively.

But I want to go deeper, much deeper, because the deeper I dive, the further my message will carry.

I am 45 years old and my motto is “Daring to Inspire.” When I’m not in the water, I do public speaking events where I talk of my journey to positive mental health, incorporating the knowledge and skills that I have learned during my recovery process as well as those gained from freediving and how these can be easily translated into healthier lifestyles and businesses (without the need to hold your breath!)

I want to carry this message of hope and inspiration to as many as possible, especially those who struggle with mental illness as well as those who are marginalised by their age or sex.

You can watch a short film about my story by clicking the link below. It includes freediving footage too!

Helena’s story - Survival & triumph over mental illness

You can find more information @ www.HelenaBourdillon.com

The £3,500 I am hoping to raise will cover competition entry fees, training prior to competition, flights, accommodation and food for the duration of the trip.

Thank you for your generocity and helping me spread my message.

Helena