Bella Canning AAF One Million Dollar Challenge

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Hi, Im Bella Canning a local Townsville NQ girl, taking one step at a time to bring my elite rugby dream to life.

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At 17 years old, I have already learned that talent alone is not enough to succeed in elite sport.Growing up in North Queensland means every opportunity comes with a cost, flights, accommodation, training camps, equipment, and time away from school, family, and work. Despite these challenges, I continue to say yes to every opportunity that helps me grow as an athlete and chase my dream in rugby union.My name is Bella Canning, and I am a rugby union athlete from Townsville, North Queensland.What started as something I was once nervous to even try has become one of the biggest parts of my life. I still remember being scared to tackle and be tackled when I first started playing. It wasn’t until I earned selection in Queensland Country pathways that my mindset completely changed. From that point on, rugby became more than just a sport. It became something I wanted to fully commit myself to.Over the past two years, rugby has taken me further than I ever imagined. I have proudly represented Northern School Sport at the Queensland Representative School Sport Championships, co-captained the Townsville Brolgas U16 Girls team to a Queensland Country Championship title, represented Queensland Country at the Buildcorp Australian Schools and Junior Rugby Union Championships, and earned selection into the U18 Emerging Reds Academy.In 2025, I was also fortunate to tour internationally through Japan and New Zealand, competing against elite athletes from around the world while continuing to develop my game both on and off the field. Each experience has challenged me to become more disciplined, resilient, and determined in pursuit of my goals.Beyond rugby, I am currently completing Year 12 at St Patrick’s College Townsville, where I maintain strong academic results while balancing the demands of representative sport. I am honoured to serve as the 2026 Princes House Captain and Senior Student Ambassador. I am also actively involved in the Reef Guardians environmental program and the Sisters of Mercy service group, while representing the college in Rugby 7s, Water Polo, Athletics, and Swimming.These leadership and service opportunities have taught me the importance of commitment, teamwork, and giving back to my community.Outside of school, I am a dedicated club rugby player who enjoys supporting the next generation of athletes. I regularly assist with coaching junior teams and volunteer at club events whenever needed. Rugby has provided me with incredible opportunities, and I believe it is important to give back to the sport and community that have helped shape who I am.As an athlete, my goal is to continue pushing my limits every day. I strive to embrace hard work, resilience, and discipline in pursuit of excellence. I am committed to continually improving my skills, contributing positively to my team environment, and setting an example through my work ethic and leadership. My long-term goal is to become an elite rugby athlete while inspiring younger players to chase their own dreams with confidence and determination.This year, I am continuing to work towards higher representative rugby opportunities while preparing for upcoming competitions, including the Qld Cup Rugby 7s School Girls Championships in Noosa and Qld Country Championships in Townsville. Development camps, travel, strength and conditioning, recovery, and pathway programs all continue behind the scenes.The reality is that competing in elite sport is expensive.The $10,000 I am raising through the Aussie Athlete Fund and Australian Sports Foundation will help cover:• Flights and travel from North Queensland to competitions and training camps• Accommodation and transport costs• Rugby registration and tournament fees• Strength and conditioning programs• Recovery and physiotherapy support• Boots, training gear, and equipment• Fuel, food, and the ongoing costs of balancing school, training, and travelLast year alone, I regularly travelled from Townsville to Brisbane for the 10 week Emerging Reds Academy while managing school commitments and training. Like many regional athletes, my family and I make significant sacrifices to ensure these opportunities remain possible.Every donation makes a genuine difference.A donation of $50 helps cover recovery and training essentials.A donation of $250 contributes towards travel and accommodation costs for competitions and camps.A donation of $1,000 helps fund major pathway opportunities that regional athletes often struggle to access without financial support.Your support is about more than rugby.It is helping a young athlete from regional Queensland continue to access opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to sustain. It is helping me continue to learn, develop, and pursue my goals while representing my community with pride.I know I still have a long way to go, but I am willing to work for every opportunity in front of me.If you would like to support my journey, any donation, big or small, would mean the world to me. All donations are tax deductible through the Australian Sports Foundation.If your business or organisation is interested in partnering with me, I would also love the opportunity to connect and discuss sponsorship possibilities.Thank you for believing in my journey and helping me continue to chase my goals.Bella CanningProudly supported by the Aussie Athlete Fund, founded by Olympian Natalie Cook OAM, helping young Australian athletes stay in sport and pursue their dreams.