My name is Laura Cluxton and I'm a blind cyclist. I am looking for some help in my quest to make it to the next commonwealth games in Goldcoast 2018.

As a child I loved playing on my bike. However as my eyesight deteriorated due to the condition Retinitis Pigmentosa I was no longer able to ride my bike any more. As time went on my sight continued to get worse and by the age of 25 I was registered blind.

When I eventually came to terms with my sight loss after losing my job, I began to start a new pathway for myself beginning with small steps to get my independence back and start to build up some confidence. In 2012 I got my guide dog Pixie. In 2013 I decided I wanted to try tandem track cycling. This turned out to be the best idea I've ever had! After 8 months of having great fun once or twice a week I was talent spotted by the Scotland coach and was invited to train with the squad with a view to qualify for the games in Glasgow 2014. At this point cycling was no longer a hobby, I was now an athlete at elite performance level sport. I was very new to it all and had a lot to learn in a very short space of time, however I made it! My pilot Fiona Duncan and I performed world class times and were 5th in both our events. Now I have my sights firmly set on qualification for 2018. I'm training 6 days a week with 3 days being double training days.

I am self funding my journey to the Goldcoast and this is where any help I could get would be gratefully received. I am paying per month for my twice weekly Strength & Conditioning sessions and I have just purchased a Watt bike, which is an excellent static bike used by British cycling and many of their athletes, to train independently at home. I have borrowed £2000 from my parents to pay for this but I believe that by having this bike it's going to give me the gains I need to be on the podium in 2018. Any help you can give to reach my target would be awesome.

Thanks for reading. X