My name is Yolunda, and this winter I'll be lining up on two of the most storied stretches of water in the rowing world — the Holland Beker in Amsterdam and the Henley Royal Regatta in England, where my crew will contest the Bridge Challenge Plate. I'll be racing in a women's eight for Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC).

I'm doing this alongside my Juris Doctor at Monash, which means most days are a 5am start at the shed, lectures and reading through the day, and a second session before bed. It's a lot, but law school is teaching me how to think and rowing is teaching me how to keep showing up — both feel like investments in the person I want to become.

Rowing an eight is the ultimate team sport, racing the Bridge Challenge Plate at Henley and competing at the Holland Beker is a chance to test myself and my crew against the best in the world, on courses where the sport's history was written. For someone who grew up watching these regattas from the other side of the planet, it feels surreal.

I'm not a professional athlete, there's no salary and no sponsorship deal, just a lot of training and the support of people who care. International racing adds up fast: flights and accommodation to Amsterdam and the UK, regatta entry fees, boat hire and equipment transport (you can't exactly check an eight as luggage), and coaching and training camp costs in the lead-up. Every dollar goes directly toward getting our crew to the start line in the best shape possible.

I've partnered with the Australian Sports Foundation, so every donation is fully tax-deductible. Whatever you can give — $20, $50, $500 — genuinely makes a difference, and sharing this page is just as valuable if donating isn't possible. Thank you for being part of the journey. I'll be carrying every name on this list with me to Amsterdam and Henley.

— Yolunda