I'm Hugh Gionfriddo and I'm passionate about sport. I'm 16 years old and profoundly deaf - Auslan is my first language. I play a number of sports: AFL Football, American Football/Gridiron tackle and American Flag Football. I'm a part of two Victorian teams for American Football and I've now been selected to represent Australia in the U17 Flag Football Team that will be participating in an International Tournament in Los Angeles in June.

I am hoping for your support to raise funds to help cover the costs of my travel to America and participation in this exciting event which will be open up development pathways for the Olympics in LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

Being Deaf, there are so many barriers that I face day to day but when I play sport, I feel like I am on a level playing field to my hearing peers. I would appreciate anything that you could give to help me get to LA!