Personal message

Hi,My name is Jocelyn Young, mother of Jayden Aitken, a very passionate hockey player! The first goal he set out with when he started high school at Pearson, was to be in the first team. His first try out was for the U16 team. The first year he was not selected.

This did not dampen his spirits at all, and he persevered and was chosen for the U16A side the next year where he has flourished. He plays defence and yet he was one of the team's top goal scorers, from this position!! Unusual for a defender to be scoring so many goals but he has done it.

His team made it to the Top 12 Schools Tournament, an unusual achievement for this school team, and they came 5th against teams from all over the country. Which brings us to this year!! He was selected for the High-Performance squad, a squad of boys that are earmarked for the school's first team.

Their training has been pretty intense from the get-go, early morning fitness sessions, turf sessions in the afternoon as well as working out in the gym. He also plays club hockey, so some days are extremely long and taxing. He has been a nervous wreck this past week, in anticipation of the big announcement, in that the team would be selected today (Friday, 16 February). 

We received a message at 09:30 with the following:

"I MADE THE TEAM" We wish we had been there to see his face when they called out his name!! Needless to say we are beaming with pride. He has worked so hard for this and wanted it with every fibre of his body!! Pretty soon after that, we received the 2 tours coming up information and I realised that this is not something that we can afford. Even collectively.

I thought of other athletes that I have raised funds by using this platform and wondered if it would help raise a little towards these tour costs? Anyone who knows Jayden, knows how passionate he is about hockey, he lives, breathes and dreams of playing, maybe making a career out of it!

Any small donation will be a huge help in easing the burden, as we really don’t want to be in the position where we have to give him that unavoidable disappointing news in telling him he can’t go. I know he will be understanding as this is his character, but inside he will be shattered. So, we thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to read this and appeal you to make a difference in our little man's life.

Thank you in advance if you find it in your hearts to make a small donation.

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