Description
Kia Ora
My name is Levi Jordan, I have recently celebrated my 13th birthday and I am a newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic. This is my story …
I have recently been selected to represent New Zealand at a World Cup Martial Arts competition which will be held in Las Vegas in July 2018.
This is a huge dream of mine and it would mean everything to me if I was able to raise enough funds to compete in this event!
In June 2015 when I was just 10 years old, I was fortunate to be selected to represent NZ at the annual Kenpo Karate World Cup competition. This competition was held over 3 days and had representatives from 28 different countries attending. I was fortunate to obtain 1st place Forms, 1st place Self Defence and 2nd place Sparring. My placing in each event then qualified me to compete for the overall grand champion. I was successful in placing 1st in the Youth World Champion for forms. This was a great achievement and an experience that I felt very privileged to be a part of.
I continue to be a practicing member of Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo 5.0 Karate, which is one of the world’ most dynamic and practical martial arts system.
In January 2016, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, insulin dependent. This is an autoimmune condition that is irreversible. This has been life changing and a huge learning curve. My family and I have had to learn and cope with the many highs and lows associated with having diabetes. I have had to learn how to keep myself safe, which involves constant monitoring of my blood glucose levels, strict dietary adjustments, calculating insulin doses versus food intake, and because I love to participate in all sporting activities, I have had to learn how my body reacts to physical activity.
Although at times I wish I didn’t have diabetes, I am grateful that my condition is one that can be managed and I feel lucky that I can still do the things that I love to do (play sports) with just a bit more planning!
My goal now is to compete in the 2018 World Cup Championship event! I truly believe that it was a combination of commitment, dedication, hard work and a solid grounding in the martial arts syllabus which resulted in my achievement in 2015.
I am prepared to put in the hard work to represent New Zealand again, and with your financial support I believe that I can achieve my goal!
