Place at BMX World Championships hangs in balance for teenager Jessie Leasley
A BMX rider risks missing out on her dream of riding at the World Championships due to a lack of funding.
Jessie Leasley is the only girl from Yorkshire to qualify for the big event in Brisbane, Australia, in July, having excelled at more local events.
The 15-year-old from Wath needs £10,000 to make the trip and although there is still hope, time is against her.
She has to confirm in March whether or not she is attending.
"I don’t think it is going to happen, but it would be nice if it did,” said her mum, Emma.
"Jessie has been a BMX racer for the last three years. She has he talent and she loves it. She has competed in nationals and regionals and this would obviously be the experience of a lifetime.
"It would be such a shame if she missed out. If she doesn’t then she will have to compete again this year to try and make it to next year’s Worlds and there is no guarantee she will get that opportunity again. It’s a hard challenge.”
A Go Fund Me Page has been set up and all contributions will be returned if the fund does not reach its target.
Jessie, who is autistic, was featured on the front page of the Advertiser recently for the way she has turned her life around since being the target of bullies.
Thanks in part to the confidence gained from BMX riding, she now owns two small businesses and is a capable photography and poet.
She even saved up pocket money to buy Christmas gifts for the elderly and the disabled.
"She it putting the work in and trying her hardest,” added Emma.
"We did say that if doesn’t make it to the Worlds then we will try to get her to one of the European rounds instead, which will be quite a bit cheaper.
“The Worlds is still the dream and it would be the icing on the cake if she could get there.”
Visit at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-jessie-to-the-world-championships or see Jessie’s Instagram at jessie.bmx767 to learn more about her journey.