My name is Sam, I am 20 years old and have a muscle wasting condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I've been playing wheelchair football for Reading Powerchair Football Club for seven years and am the Captain.
I got involved in Powerchair football after trying the sport at a taster session. I had always loved normal football from a young age so grabbed the opportunity to play andI joined Reading PFC in 2010 and am part of a great team.
In our first ever season playing at the Nationals we became runners up in the WFA Cup.. In our second season we got promoted to the Premiership division. For the rest of the time in the National league we remained in the Championship division. We now play in the South East Regional league.which I really enjoy.
I now want to take my game to the next level, to do this I need the Strike Force Powerchair , a specialised Powerchair that has been specifically designed to compete at a high level. Recently the Strike Force Powerchair was introduced into England and is now the most advanced type of chair in all the leagues in the country. Until now only the England National Team have had access to them.
The power and acceleration made by the Strike Force is significantly higher than my current Powerchair. The chair I use now is unable to keep up with the Strike Force and due to its age it has reliability problems.
My current chair is letting me down and I find that less experienced players are able to do things quicker. I've been playing for seven years now, the experience I've gained is now being tested with better improved equipment.
Without the Strike Force chair I will be left behind and dreams of winning titles will be lost. The Strike Force - like any specialised equipment - comes with a large price tag. I'm currently raising funds to purchase the chair. Any help would be greatly appreciated, like any player I dream of being selected for the England squad.