Bush busy fundraising as GB target Deaflympics gold

Alex Bush is in a race against time to raise funds to pay for her place in Team GB’s football squad at the 2017 Deaflympics.

The 18-year-old from Letchworth, Hertfordshire, has made the 24-strong provisional line-up for this summer’s event in Samsun, Turkey.

But each player has been asked to raise £500 towards the cost of competing at the Deaflympics.

Central midfielder Bush, who plays for Letchworth Eagles, was influential in Britain’s bronze medal-winning run at the 2016 Deaf World Cup.

“If selected, this will be my first Deaflympics and my second international tournament which will be a big step for me as a deaf footballer trying to represent their country,” she said.

“I would really appreciate any help that people can give.”

Donations

GB Deaf Football receives no central funding and needs to come up with £125,000 to send its men’s and women’s teams to the Deaflympics.

“We are aiming for gold, and being able to raise this money will mean the squad can fully focus on training”

It has currently raised just over half of that amount. Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has donated £20,000 to help reach the target.

Manchester City have opened their state-of-the-art training facilities to the GB women’s team to train at in March ahead of the Deaflympics.

Bush said: “The money we’re raising will support our preparation for the Deaflympics with training weekends and matches in the build-up to the competition.

“It will also help cover costs for both teams to represent Great Britain in Turkey, paying for things such as flights, hotels and physiotherapy.

“We are aiming for gold, and being able to raise this money will mean the squad can fully focus on training.”

The final GB Deaflympic squad will be named in April.

To help Alex Bush raise £500, you can donate here. To help Team GB raise £125,000 you can donate here.