My name is Matthew Butterfield. Im a 17 year old male student from Rotorua, and I have recently been selected to play for the New Zealand Volleyball Junior Men’s team traveling to Myanmar (Burma) in late June of 2016. I am also a type 1 diabetic, and require funds in order to keep my personal health in good order while travelling overseas for the first time since I got diagnosed. I first got into volleyball through my dad, who has played now for a bit over 20 years. When I was a kid I always wanted to be like him and play as good volleyball as him. From my early childhood I went to his games and tournaments supporting him, and now I play alongside him at his club trainings, as well as for my school Western Heights High School. Although achieving my goal of getting in the school A team, we did not take out the national title at the recent national competition in Palmerston North. I did however trial for the New Zealand Junior Men’s te am, and succeeded in being selected for the team travelling to Myanmar (Burma) for New Zealand. I was really stoked and couldn’t believe that I had achieved a position in the New Zealand team. I hope that my journey inspires other keen sporting kids in New Zealand to try out everything as it is not impossible to do what you think you are not able to do.

MATTHEW NEEDS HELP TO GET TO BURMA WITH THE NZ MEN’S JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL TEAM!

SPORTING GOALS

My goals at the moment are to have good grades by the end of this year in order to have confidence going on to university. I also want to be able to trial out for this NZL volleyball team again next year and gain a position in it.

HIGHEST SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

Making the NZ Volleyball Junior Men’s Team!