Competitive swimmer Jesse Reynolds hopes to dive for gold in swimming championships in the USA in eight days.
Jesse, 15, has been part of a Paralympian national development programme for four years.
The Hamilton youngster only has one leg after he was born without a femur. He now has a
prosthetic leg which he removes to swim.
He hopes to make it to Cincinnati on May 19 but needs $6500 to attend the event.
He and his family are holding a fundraiser this Saturday at the Frankton Markets.
"It has been great to have so much support and encouragement from so many people to get me to the USA."
The swim meet is the US Disability Open. More than 150 swimmers from around the world have registered to compete at the annual event.
It will have a high calibre of swimmers as it is one of the last qualifying meets for London 2012.
"It is very exciting to be going to the USA to represent New Zealand. I really want to do well and achieve some personal bests," he said.
The overseas events are crucial to gain experience as well as to be able to see where Jesse will fit on the world stage.
His ultimate goal is to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.
Jesse spends around 15 hours a week training at Hamilton's Fairfield Swim Club. He swims in an able-bodied squad of about 30 swimmers and holds 19 PNZ national records in his classification.
He believes he is competing very much on a 'level playing field', an equal with his peers and not as an athlete with a disability.
"There are only a few AWD (athlete with disability) events throughout the year and there are currently no other swimmers to compete against.
"I have to swim against the clock and then my times are converted into points and that will determine how well I am doing."
The fundraiser is a jumble sale and bake sale held at 229 Commerce Street, Frankton, this Saturday May 12, 8am-1pm.
- THE WAIKATO INDEPENDENT
