November 26, 2014 – Canadian Para-cyclist Marie-Claude Molnar has set up a fundraising campaign at makeachamp.com, to help her raise the money she will need to buy new parts for a time trial bike that she aims to race at the Rio 2016 Olympics. There are 40 days left in her campaign and she was already able to raise 40% of her $3,500 goal within a week. Link to her campaign page here.

Molnar’s Story:

My name is Marie-Claude and I have been racing with the Canadian Paralympic Cycling Team and also Acquisio Team. I wasn’t born an athlete; I was born to become an athlete.

From my early years, I have always been into sport. As I grew up, I realized that to get somewhere in this life, you have to fix yourself an objective. One day I was wondering how far I could ride on my bike in one day. Could I do it? There is only one way to find out and it is to try because if you do not try, you’ll never know!

I left home early that morning and rode for 60km. On the way back, however, fate wanted it differently and as I was riding on the side of the road, where the speed limit was 70km/h, a car came and hit me at 110km/h. I was left with a head trauma, many broken bones and lost a lot of blood. I also almost lost both of my arms.

After spending 3 weeks in hospital and close to a month in readaptation, I was back home but mostly back on a bike.

That experience brought me strength I never even knew I had in me. Now, could I compete in cycling? There is only one way to find out…

In November 2008, I started to train with a coach. 4 years later, I was on the podium at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, receiving a bronze medal for the individual time trial.

To this day, I have trained very hard and got stronger and stronger. 2014 has been a rough season though and was the first time ever I wasn’t on the podium in international races, even though my performance has been increasing. I learned that mental preparation is also an important part of training.

My goal for 2015 is to come back and be able to get back on the podium as I have set my eyes on making the Rio 2016 team as a medal contender.

I will be using the funds for:

As part of my athletic development, I was given the tools I needed to perform to the best of my abilities. However, not too long ago, as I went for strength testing for a new strength building program, racing bikes were stolen from my car. Today I have to get new material.

Your contribution means:

The athlete plays a huge part in a performance but the equipment is also a part of that equation. Your contribution would allow me to get racing equipment as I’m heading towards Rio 2016.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help in my quest for another medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games!