It's my birthday and I'll help if I want to!

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Next week is my 24th Birthday and I'm trying something unique this year. Next Wednesday I will be turning another year older and celebrating another year of being involved in sport. As a member of the Women's National Field Hockey team I am so honoured to be representing Canada. After recently returning from the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, I feel I am in a position to say that the Women's Field Hockey program is going somewhere, somewhere good! We are preparing for the 2011 Pan American Games (in Mexico next October) which will be our first opportunity to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Our team has been on a bit of a hiatus since the Commonwealth Games but things are starting to pick up this month.

From January 15-24th, the team will be travelling to San Diego, CA to play 4-test matches against the States and gain some hot(ter) weather training and conditioning. The team is also pleased to be bringing along a Nutritionist to help bring knowledge about better eating habits on tour. Following this test series, the team will re-centralize in Vancouver before heading off to Chile and Mexico in March for another tour for acclimatization and test matches. Later on we will be competing in the Champions Challenge II tournament being held in Vienna, Austria (May 7-14th, 2011) and we will be hosting a 4-Nations series in Vancouver to simulate the Pan Am Games (hosting USA, Chile and Argentina). The busy year ahead is all in anticipation of qualifying for the Olympics and we are hopeful that our preparation will give us a good shot at it next October. 

In terms of my progress, I won't be joining the team on these upcoming events because I recently under-went arthroscopic shoulder repair to stitch up a torn labrum. Though unfortunate, my coach and I decided it would be best to get the surgery (and recovery) over with now rather than closer to the Pan American games. So, I will not be heading to San Diego, Chile or Mexico but am hopeful of returning for the Champions Challenge in mid-May. 

As I mentioned, next week is my 24th Birthday and I have decided to do something different. Instead of the usual birthday festivities and traditions, I have decided to use my birthday as a WISH for everyone to donate to a special, non-profit fund that has been very important to me. The Canadian Athletes Now Fund is a non-profit organization that raises money for athletes of all sports in Canada and offers grants of $6000 to each of those athletes. Last year I was lucky enough to be a recipient and am hopeful that I will be again this year, too! 

For my 24th Birthday it is my wish that you donate online in my name to help support athletes in Canada via the CAN FUND. You will helping all athletes who are trying to bring Canada's name onto the podium and you will be making my birthday wish come true. I am suggesting a small donation of $5, $10 or $15 only and if you can't donate, to spread this link on to 5 people. I want to raise awareness about how amazing Can Fund is and just how important it is for athletes to help other athletes and the community to help bring Canada to the top of the world sporting stage!

The link to donate is : http://goo.gl/rKfYV

More information on my blog: http://ali-inthenow.blogspot.com

Thanks for making my Birthday Wishes come true!!!

Additional:

Can FUND thank you video from the field hockey team from last year: http://goo.gl/jRxFT

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