My First Post of this Journey

Before reading the explanation of the Maccabiah Games, let me tell you my story. Growing up, I have always been athletic, but I was involved in sports such as basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Sophomore year in high school, my volleyball coach had asked the team to start other sports to stay in shape. A friend suggested track and field. The rest is history. I immediately fell in love with shot put. It's all about strength and power. I started to get some medals here and there, but by my junior year, I was always in the top five for shot put. In high school, I had only competed in three seasons, but was in love with this sport. I continued throwing into college, playing on the varsity team, to which I now have the shot put and weight throw school records. I am also happy to say I am the captain as well. I applied to be in the Maccabiah Games in summer of 2012. By September, my dreams of being an international athlete and going to Israel were put down when I was told I had not made the team. My junior year of college may have not started out that well, but I persisted through the rest of the year. I even set the record for weight throw and outdoor shot put as well as getting a new personal record for discus! By the end of the school year, finals were starting to take their toll on me, but I received an email from the Chairman of the Track and Field and Half Marathon Team for the United States. He said someone had dropped out and they were looking at alternates. I had to say yes! After a week of emails and phone calls, I received the one phone call that would change it all... So now, I am here, just a few weeks away from going to Israel for Israel Connect as well as competing at the Maccabiah Games. Never in my wildest dreams would I, a Division III athlete, think I could make it this far. I am so honored that they have picked me and this whole experience will be in honor of my grandmother, Sylvia Zeig, who passed away on May 10th, 2011. She is the one who always taught me to go after what I believe in. Thanks Gram. So, here I am, having to come up with 5 grand in a few weeks. I ask you to help me out and to make my dreams come true not just for me, but for my college, high school, hometown, and my family. Thank you. The World Maccabiah Games is a celebration of Jewish unity, culture, and heritage through athletic competition – it is the third largest international sporting event in the world! I hope you will join me in my fundraising efforts for the 19th World Maccabiah Games in 2013 – any contribution helps! Your support will ensure that my team is well represented in Israel. You can make a difference! Here is the link to donate: https://friendraising.towercare.com/Markslist/campaign/viewDetails.do?ca...