At only 14 years old Anika has been selected to represent Australia in the Australian National U18 Team competing in Poland in 2025. In addition, Anika has also been selected to play for Adelaide Rush in the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL). This is our top women’s league for women in Australia. Not bad for a kid who is legally blind and had to be carried in a sling until she was 2 because she had chronic separation anxiety!

Ice Hockey has been a significant part of Anika’s life for the last 4-5 years with her competing both within Australia in our SA National team as well as internationally in Singapore. Anika has also done numerous training camps interstate and within SA. To be able to afford these we have driven thousands of kilometers to save costs on flights, slept in the car and had our other kids incorporate family holidays with tournaments and camps. Well……the family holiday was the tournament or camp! Most of Anikas presents for Christmas and birthdays were hockey related, and we have even glued and stitched gear together to get through!

The journey to get to the Australian team has been a windy road and there were many times when Anika found it difficult to maintain her training around music exams, school and family commitments. However, with a focus from home on her mental health and toughness we have managed to sneak over the finishing line with Anika securing a spot in the U18 Australian team against what seemed at times all odds.

While Anika’s part time job of distributing fliers and selling her incense holders was great for some pocket money there are significant costs associated with both competing in the Australian Ice Hockey League as well as travelling overseas in the Australian team. These costs include team airfares, transport, accommodation, practice and game ice time fee’s, team uniform and team equipment, team league fees and charges.

Imagine an iceberg where the kid in the Aussie track suit is what you see on top of the water but it’s the huge chunk of ice underneath attached to it that represents the training time, cost and personal sacrifice. It was the ice beneath the water that sunk the titanic and so we are asking for your help to keep the boat afloat so the kid can wear the tracksuit!

By supporting Anika through your donation not only will you be helping Anika to represent her country, but you will also be assisting her to follow her dream of one day becoming a coach and advocate for women in sport and a playing environment that is fair and free from bullying and exclusion.

Be part of positive change, help make a kids dream come true!

All donations over $2 are tax deductable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF8ni_LRAkQ