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Help a Type 1 Diabetic girl bring gold home for Victoria in Inline Hockey Championships

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So many new, intimidating faces, so many people that had represented the state previously, and even the country, and I was competing against them for a place in the Junior Women&#39;s and Under 15s division. Despite the odds, I was selected as one of two goalies and not just for one, but both teams.It was an honour, a dream of mine since I started playing as a little girl, something I questioned my ability to do as a Type 1 Diabetic.Late September rolled around and the national championship was taking place in Tasmania, and by early October, I returned back to Victoria with a gold and silver medal under my belt for Junior Womens and Under 15s, respectively. As well as being tied for the best save percentage as a goalie in the Under 15s mixed division, at 81.8%This year, I was lucky enough to be selected to represent Victoria in the Australian National Inline Hockey Championships of 2026, for not one, but two divisions yet again. The main goalie for Junior Womens and one of only 3 girls in our Under 17s mixed Victorian team, highlighting just how male-dominated my biggest passion is. Now despite this fantastic news of acceptance, me and my parents had a major concern, the management of my Type 1 Diabetes. When I was 8 years old, I was sent into the hospital with symptoms of: After admission, I was in the ICU for 2 days, and the children&#39;s for another 5. My days blurred together, my memory was fuzzy, and was released a bit over a week later with a chronic disease, given a life sentence at the age of eight. Being from a low socioeconomic background has proved difficult for all of us in the household. Two hardworking parents are now government pensioners, due to my dad’s health issues and my mum becoming his full-time carer. Being financially dependent on Centrelink due to his disabilities and inability to work, paying for the fees allowing me to compete in this national competition are a heavy burden on our shoulders. Because I’m representing my state in two divisions, it means double the fees for parents, who can’t easily afford it. This is why we’ve asked for your help.  Registration fee for the Victorian Inline Hockey Organization  -  $120Player Fee  -  $550“               “  -  $550Team jersey  -  $75Team shorts  -  $45       Total    - $1340 Growing up, I never saw someone like me, a Type 1 diabetic athlete, let alone a Type 1 Diabetic woman in such a physical sport. This isn’t just about me, a teenage girl wanting to succeed, this is also about representation and relatability for others like me, to give hope to those other young girls. To diabetics who doubt themselves, because there’s no need. Doubt was my companion as I grew, assuming people would see and treat me differently because of something entirely outside of my control, that I&#39;d be underestimated or ignored, but something paid off far more than my diabetes jeopardises. Hard work.Playing hockey since I was 9 years old, I fell in love with the sport. Despite not being the average kid, this was the one thing that made me feel like I had before my diagnosis, free, energetic, like myself again. Years later, my local rink needed a goalie for their intermediate division, and since then? I’ve found, arguably, the greatest stability in my life. Something I knew would always make me happier, a community that always supported me, an activity that always distracted me from the heavy weight of the rest of my medical responsibilities. It’s just me, the net, and the players trying to get the puck past me. Easter holidays of 2025, my first proper tournament. I, a 15 year old, represented the Border Benchwarmers, a team of Aubury/Wodonga adult players I had never met before. Despite that, we never lost a game until we got to the qualifying finals, where we were only bested by one goal. In March of 2026, I was personally asked to represent a team called the Lilydale Rats in their Women’s division, in addition to their mixed Under 17s team. In which, I and a good friend of mine, Violet, were the only girls in the mixed team.The women&#39;s division grand final, Lilydale Rats against the undefeated Dekes of Hazards, a team consisting of grown women who have played hockey together for over a decade, who represent South Australia in inline hockey tournaments… and we won.Later that day, the Under 17’s grand final took place, and we secured the silver medal. Currently? I’m playing hockey 5 days a week on average, anywhere between 5-8 games and 2-4 training sessions per week. Due to this demanding schedule and playing for higher divisions, even locally, some new goalie equipment had to be bought to ensure I would be safe while playing. Being a goalie is a lot more expensive which no-one warned us about. Not counting tournaments or even season fees for local rinks, the gear alone is pricey. Goalies use specific inline skates which we were able to purchase for the bargain price of $517. The massive leg pads goalie are suited up in are usually at least $1300 for the pair. Recently we were able to afford new gear: leg pads, blocker, mit and chestplate, all for the price of $2300. Which, despite the brilliant bargain for such good equipment, is a large amount of money for the average person, let alone a family in a struggling financial situation. If, by some insanely generous donations, the fees for the National Inline Hockey championship are paid off, our secondary goal is to get back the money we spent on the well needed, over-due gear that allowed me to play my part in the game to my full capacity. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated, knowing it’s people like you that have helped me earn my place to compete for my state, Victoria.

Hayden's Hockey Hopes