What a privilege to hear Maia’s phenomenal story with her bestie Letitia Butler supporting her enthusiastically with heartfelt passion.
o participate in the 33 female Wheelchair Rugby World Tournament in Paris this December. BUT her current wheelchair won’t make it. Maia’s male teammates receive a new chair yearly, but Maia doesn't! She has to fundraise for this herself. A chair costs $13k and replacement wheels approximately $2k. Both Maia and Letitia are incredibly thankful for the financial support given through their Give a Little page to raise funds and Maia now only requires $700 more to reach her goal and be able to purchase her new chair. More to read....jpeg)
Letitia said Maia is shy and quiet but on court, she is feisty as hell! Maia trains at Les Mills 6 days week and is a 2.5 player (the point system refers to her level of disability). To put this into context, players with the highest level of impairment are classified as 0.5 players. Maia loves wheelchair rugby as she “loves smashing people”!!! Certain positions are offensive (that’s Maia of course). There are four players on court with their point total of total ‘8' not to be exceeded. Watch out Paris!
Letitia said that she came into Maia’s life as a caregiver seven years ago after Maia’s Mum died from cancer. When Maia was a toddler at age 2years she sustained significant burns from a car fire. An injection given to her for a spinal infection (while undergoing rehabilitation) left her legs paralysed and later in life she had to have a leg amputated. She has ongoing medical issues. Letitia told us that together they made a conscious decision to concentrate on the positive. She introduced Maia to Wheel Chair Rugby and the sport has helped Maia to lift her self belief and self confidence, and continues to help her to overcome her shyness.
Three years ago, Maia became Mum to her niece and nephew which has bought much pleasure to her life. Maia and Letitia are a couple of movie stars! You can see them in two documentaries. The links are: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/being-me/episodes/s2013/e3 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnIb9d1qBy4.
It is not to late to help Maia. Here is the link for her “Give a Little” page: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/maizpush2paris
Maia is very excited about traveling to Paris and hopes to achieve the best female player in the world. GO GIRL!!! Her bestie Letitia thanked St John's Rotary for their support by singing a song she had composed (caused a bit of a "tear up" for some of us). Best of luck in Paris Maia. Please bring Letitia with you and come back and tell us how you went.