Local boxer launches funding appeal for Youth Olympics dream

Edenderry boxer Lauren Kelly has launched a crowd funding appeal to help her realise her dream of appearing at next year's Youth Olympics.

One of Ireland's most promising young boxers, Lauren (17) only entered the ring five years but since then has amassed an impressive collection of accolades including six national titles and bronze medals at the Junior European Championships in 2015 and this year at Youth European Championships.

In between her achievements at the European championships of 2015 and this, she suffered what she describes in her post on the crowd funding website gofundme.com as a “career threatening” injury to her elbow.

She credits her family and coaches for getting her through this difficult period, which also included sitting her Leaving Certificate in the summer.

“Doctors told me I would never box again. I could not accept this and I found a doctor who was willing to operate on me and I agreed to the surgery even though I knew there was a possibility my elbow could not be fixed.

“On September 26 2016 I had my elbow completely reconstructed, the surgery we soon found out was a success. So then began my seven tough months of rehabilitation.

“I can say I would not have made it through these seven months if it wasn’t for my family and my coach as they were very challenging physically and mentally. I got back into the ring in May 2017 and defeated the odds and went on to win two national titles and a European bronze medal.”

After coming through the most challenging period of her boxing career, Lauren has set her sights on securing a place at next year's Youth Olympics

To give herself the best chance of achieving her goal, she has decided to defer going to college for a year and completely focus on boxing.
However, as she is too young to apply for Sports Council funding and currently has no sponsors, ambitious Lauren has set up a crowd funding appeal on gofundme.com to support her drive for Olympic glory.

“I am hoping to have a very busy year ahead as I have recently been selected to go to the World Championships in India that are taking place in November which are also being used as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics 2018. After the Worlds there will be the European Championships which will be used as a second qualifier for the Youth Olympics. The Youth Olympics will take place in October 2018, and then another World Championships will take place some time in 2018 after these.

"As I am training two to three times a day, six days a week it means I am unable to get a job, and I also have no sponsors which means I currently have no income. Any donations will be a big help and make a difference in my journey of the next year to help me reach my full potential and my main goal which is the Youth Olympics.”

If you want to support Lauren, go to: www.gofundme.com/4kluj3k