DORJE Weston, from Wythall, has been selected to represent Great Britain at the IPF World Junior Powerlifting Championships in Romania later this summer.
The 16-year-old, who attends Woodrush High School, hopes to travel to the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca on August 29 to compete against the world’s best powerlifters in his age category.
However, Weston will have to fund his trip to Romania himself and has created a GoFundMe page in the hope of realising his dream.
Weston said: “Representing my country doing something I love is a dream, but the Championships are being held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and is a self-funded event so I need your help to get there.
“I want to be an inspiration to my young nephew and niece, who live with us and my parents care for full time, and show them that they can achieve anything if they work hard and try their best.
“What better way to be a role model for them than by representing my country and bringing home a medal.
“My parents are super supportive of my ambitions and pay for gym membership, specialist equipment and my brilliant coach, Luke Rogers (MSC performance) but I’ve been unable to earn money to contribute due to time spent studying at school and training at the gym.
“My brother and sister would love to come to Romania to cheer me on but our family is very large and there is not enough spare money to cover the costs even for me to attend the World Championship.
“This is why I am asking for your help to raise money to get to Romainia.”
Weston only took up the sport two years ago and won his first two local competitions before placing second at the Gymshark British Junior Championships in April where he became the under-18 British record holder in bench with a lift of 138.5kg.
At the national championships, he achieved a 201kg squat, 138.5kg bench and 195kg deadlift all of which he has improved upon in training.
He was invited to be part of the Great Britain squad just five days after completing his GCSE’s.
To donate to Dorje’s cause click HERE or visit: www.gofundme.com