I feel honoured to have been selected in the U19 Australian Road Cycling Team for 2023. The team will be spending four weeks training and racing in Belgium and the Netherlands, before some of us go on to Trinidad and Tobago to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Youth Games. I am incredibly proud to be able to wear the green and gold on the world stage, and would be humbled by any help you could give to assist with the costs involved.

Who am I ?

My name is Will Heath. I'm a 16 year old Brisbane cyclist, and I was born with the rare genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis (homozygous Delta-F508).

Living with CF I've always had to be sporty to keep my lungs and body in good health. I played many different sports when I was younger, but mainly Cross Country running, where I reached National level for the last five years. I first became interested in cycling four years ago, and had my first race with Balmoral CC a year later.

I took holiday jobs mowing lawns and gardening in my neighbourhood, so I could buy 2nd hand bike parts from online marketplaces and build up decent bikes to race, including my current road bike. I've also been very fortunate to receive parts from older cyclists and friends. So far I've done everything on a shoe-string budget, determined to succeed regardless. 

About a year ago I decided to get serious, and I set myself some lofty goals. Despite a hospital admission in December, I raced in my first Road Nats in January down at Ballarat and came 5th in the Criterium and 17th in the Road Race. In April I raced in the Oceania Cycling Championships where I came 11th in the Time Trial, and took out a 30sec win in the Road Race.

On the back of this victory I was categorised by AusCycling as an Emerging Athlete, and inducted into the QAS Cycling program in May.

What are my dreams ?

After finishing school next year, I hope to cycle professionally in Europe. Eventually I hope to gain selection in a World Tour team, which would open the door to one day riding in a Grand Tour (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia or Vuelta a España). The ultimate dream is to one day win a stage of a Grand Tour.

I'm not aware of anyone with Cystic Fibrosis having ever ridden in a Grand Tour - that would be a very special moment if I was able to achieve it.

What does this trip mean to me ?

It honestly means the world to me. Riding professionally in Europe is what I want to do, and to have the opportunity to get experience in doing that as a junior at the age of 16, and as a first-year U19 is incredibly exciting, but also greatly humbling.

The best junior riders in the world will be racing in many of the European tours, and to be there with my team mates, wearing the green and gold stripes and working as a team, is unbelievably inspiring.

And after the four week training camp in Belgium, a few of us have the honour of putting it all on the line for our country and the chance to perform on the international stage at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

I can't thank you enough for helping me meet the considerable costs associated with these tours. I am incredibly grateful for your support, and the encouragement to help me achieve my dreams.

I have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of everyone out there - people who I know, people who I have never met - I'm just speechless and so very grateful to you all. I have reached the project's first goal of $10,000 and now looking to reach my next goal of $15,000, which helps towards costs to race in the Australian Junior National Road Series (which I am currently leading) down in Victoria, Elite NRS in Tasmania and allow for travel down to the Australian Road Nats.

I can't tell you how much all of this means to me. Thankyou for your supporting my journey and believing in me - I'm simply overwhelmed - thank you!