Hi there! I'm Rani Tesiram and I'm a member of the Australian Paraclimbing Team (categorised in RP3). There are lots of moving parts to who I am and how my disabilities affect my climbing.

I have been climbing for 12 years. In 2016, I showed the onset of a condition known as GA2 pattern, progressively losing muscle until, in 2018, I was advised by doctors to cease exercise while we investigated my symptoms. In 2022, I started climbing regularly again and in 2023 I was given the all clear by my doctors to return to training, and was encouraged to return to competition as a paraclimber. I attended the Australian Paraclimbing Team Training Camp at SICG, Villawood in November 2023 and received a national level paraclimbing classification of RP3.

Quitting climbing and competing was one of the hardest and most devastating things I have ever had to do and for a long time I struggled to get back into it because I was fighting my body every step of the way. But now I'm back and making my International debut at the 2024 Paraclimbing World Cup. It has been quite the journey to this point and there's still so much to come. I would really appreciate your support along the way.

During my absence from competition climbing, I have stayed engaged in the climbing community by volunteering at QLD Youth State Lead Titles, advocating for inclusivity in climbing, and getting involved in outdoor crag care initiatives.

Outside of my climbing, I am a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland where I research narrative techniques in concept albums (totally different, I know). I'm actually hoping to present some of my research while I'm overseas competing as well. I might as well. At uni, I am the President of my school's postgraduate society and enjoy being a point of contact for my peers while also providing fun activities and professional development opportunities for them. I'm also helping run the Paraclimbing Queensland social days in Brisbane. A big part of joining the para team was the community that came with it. I took inspiration from the Adaptive Climbing Victoria community and was motivated to build the community in my own city. I am trying my best to balance my training with a full-time PhD and a part-time job. It's tricky, but I almost wouldn't ask for anything else.

The 2024 season takes place over May, June, and July and with the European legs being so close together (June and July), I'm planning on staying in Austria and France for that time to minimise travel expenses. This provides me with a great opportunity to train in a different environment and also not have to worry so much about the impact that travel has on my body. This means, I'll hopefully be in the best shape possible for the last competition of the season and not battling jetlag on top of my usual fatigue.

I intend on competing at all three world cups and your donations will help me fund travel and accommodation in each destination:

• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - Salt Lake City, USA (May)
• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - Innsbruck, Austria (June)
• IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup - Arco (September)

I have estimated that I will need around $10000 - $15000 to compete in all three World Cups this year and I would love your support.

Paraclimbing is an emerging sport within an emerging sport so while I take great pride and excitement in watching Sport Climbing and Paraclimbing grow, it's donations like yours that really make that growth possible. I can't wait to represent Australia on the world stage and I thank you so much for your support of myself and of Paraclimbing Australia.

All donations of $2 or more to this campaign are tax deductible - any amount helps!

You can follow me and my journey on Instagram @ranitesiram