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8 Aug 2013
SBS TV: Marayke on Insight program discussing sport
Sporting Dreams founder Marayke Jonkers joined the pannel on the Insight program titled ‘Gold’ to discuss the funding of sport in Australia. Other guests included Olympic swimmers Libby Trickett, Melanie Schlanger and DanieL Kowalski plus runner Steve Solomon and Olympic gymnast...No Comments -
8 Aug 2013
Marayke inspires stars of the future at RSL Youth Develo
Marayke would like to thank RSL QLD for donating $1000 to Sporting Dreams after Marayke was guest speaker for their youth development program award ceremony. The program, run in partnership with Bond University, provided grants to 200 talented Queensland high school...No Comments -
25 Aug 2012
London Paralympics
Australia’s first medal of the 2012 Paralympic Games was won by Sporting Dreams athlete Natalie Smith, when she took bronze in the women’s 10m Air Rifle – Standing, SH1 event. Natalie was the fist of four Sporting Dreams grant recipients...No Comments -
13 Mar 2012
Everything is possible on international women’s da
Marayke joined over 300 women at the Hyatt Coolum where she spoke on the topic ‘everything is possible,’ along with fellow guest speaker Heather Parry who is leading the way for women in the mining industry, and emcees Kim and Fleur...No Comments -
12 Mar 2012
Fun run fundraiser
01/03/2012 Marayke would like to thank Sunshine Coast local Julia Jones Walker who raised $300 for Sporting Dreams doing her first fun run, after being inspired by hearing Marayke speak. Julia co-ownes the local gym at Woombye and gathered sponsorship for...No Comments -
5 Mar 2012
Young students inspired at National Young Leaders Day
5/03/2012 Over 3000 primary school students from around Queensland were inspired by Marayke’s presentation at the National Young Leaders Day event in Brisbane. Marayke joined fellow speakers Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Beau Robinson from the QLD Reds and Tiger...No Comments -
17 Feb 2012
Art raffle raises funds for sporting Dreams
Sporting Dreams athletes have received a boost to their training for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after round the world sailor and artist Linda Frylink Anderson donated an original artwork to be raffled for Sporting Dreams. The drawing titled Liz’s blossoms...No Comments -
26 Jan 2012
Australia Day Ambassador heads to Mt Surprise
26/01/12 There was no mountain but plenty of smiles when Marayke and Mum Marion headed to Mt Suprise, a 6 hour drive from Cairns. Marayke spoke at the community Australia Day ceremony, and assisted with presenting the Australia Day Awards....No Comments -
15 Nov 2008
Innaugural Grants Presented
Marayke has awarded grants to nine Queensland athletes at the inaugural presentation ceremony for her new foundation for disabled athletes ‘Sporting Dreams’ on Saturday November 15. The awards were presented on November 15th, 2008 as part of the Sporting Wheelies & Disabled...No Comments -
5 Sep 2007
Paralympian wins fun fearless female award
Paralympian Marayke Jonkers has been named inaugural winner of Cosmopolitan and Biore’s Fun Fearless Female Award at an intimate red carpet lunch attended by some of Australia’s most inspiring women. Delta Goodrem, Kerri-Anne Kennerley,Sophie Falkiner and Carla Zampatti were among the...No Comments
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Testimonial
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To be recognised and considered for the Sporting Dreams Grant, having already received an introductory grant in 2012, and now a Developmental Athletes Grant in 2014 is an honour and a privilege. I am thankful for organisations such as the Sporting Dreams. lf it was not for such associations that exist and care for disabled athletes they would never achieve their goals and dreams. There are many disabled athletes just as deserving as me and I thank you kindly especially Marayake Jonkers, you will always be an inspiration and a legend in my eyes. ... Debra McGary- Lawn Bowls
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Sporting Dreams helps inspire athletes by supporting and acknowledging disabled athletes aspirations. Attending the Ceremony showed me how many marvelous people there are striving to achieve their own personal goal. Sporting Dreams is important because it encourages you and helps you to chase your dream. I have competed in the State and National RDA (Riding for the Disabled ) championships this year. My Sporting Dreams grant enabled me to pay the entry fees for my horse riding competitions. Sporting dreams is important because it encourages you and helps you to chase your dream. Sporting Dreams helps inspire athletes by supporting and acknowledging disabled athletes aspirations. ... Tarsha Tupper- Para Equestrian
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“Sporting Dreams has been a great help to my family and I because they have provided money which has been very useful towards my sporting career travelling for big events, such as Nationals. I believe Sporting Dreams is important because it provides opportunities for young athletes to do what they desire. After my Sporting Dreams grant, I have achieved School Sport Australia National age champion 2 years in a row. I would like to thank Sporting Dreams for giving me the grant so I have been able to go on to achieve such amazing goals and opportunities.” Noah Robinson & Mum Sharon... Noah Robinson- Swimming
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Receiving my Sporting Dreams grant and coming to that first awards ceremony was incredibly exciting. The grant itself was wonderful, as we knew it would really help me to achieve my goals, but going to the ceremony and meeting Marayke, who is such an inspiring role model, and other fantastic athletes who were doing so well in their respective sports, was a great learning experience. The grant allowed me to buy a new pair of racing shoes, as I was transitioning into sprints at the time, and also helped with my competition costs. I think Sporting Dreams is so important because the financial costs of sport can be very high, and that can sometimes mean that hardworking, talented sportspeople can’t compete as much as they would like. The Sporting Dreams grants help make it possible for more athletes to achieve their sporting goals, and also brings together athletes so that they can learn from each other, and realize they’re not alone in their journey. I received my first grant in 2008. Since then, I competed in the IPC Athletics World Championships in 2011, where I won silver in the T35 100m, and gold in the T35 200m. I also competed...... Rachael Dodds-athletics
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I am fortunate to have been the recipient of two of these awards and they have been of great assistance to me as I pursue my sporting dream of representing Australia in Athletics at the Paralympics. Both the awards have assisted me with the day to day practicalities of training and competing in my chosen events of Shot Put and Discus. I live in a regional area of Queensland, so each week, twice a week I make a three hour round trip to travel to Brisbane for training. The grant monies help cover the cost of my travel and training fees. This has been a great help to me as last year I was able to travel to the USA to compete in the World Dwarf Games where I won three gold medals and set a World Dwarf Games record and this year I was able to make my goal of winning the Australian Open Women’s Discus and place third in Shot Put, setting a new Australian record for my classification. Sporting Dreams Foundation is important not only because of the financial assistance it offers but also for the recognition, encouragement and inspiration it gives as we strive to reach...... Claire Keefer- athletics
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Ready. Set. Go! If only life was so simple… As an athlete with a disability we are always getting ready. Set. Well that’s the easy part. Go…. That’s the tricky part. Preparation is always the key ingredient with plenty of support, and self-belief that there are no limitations. My name is Lakeisha Patterson, otherwise known as Lucky in the swimming world, I am 15 years old with Cerebral Palsy, Early onset Parkinson’s Disease, Epilepsy and Micrographia, to name a few, ha. Life is challenging at times, even without a disability. But if you surround yourself in the right environment, and keep your eyes open, you shall surely discover many opportunities as I have. I started swimming to gain a pain free day. With incredible encouragement from a learn to swim coach who never gave up on me, I gained more strength every day. That everyday became a lifestyle in and out of the water that created many opportunities for greatness. When all is going great, the medal collection expands. My Sponsor, my mum, and my two sisters have made many sacrifices so as I can achieve my dream of becoming an Australian Paralympic Swimmer. Six months ago, this all seemed...... Lakeisha Patterson- Swimming
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When Josh received his award in 2010 he was swimming. He represented Queensland and his relay team medaled at Nationals. Your grant helped with training and transport for this, thank-you. Since then, Josh has tried a variety of sports and cultural activities. For a boy with one hand he has not taken the easy options! Rugby replaced football, waterpolo replaced swimming, snare and bass drum replaced trumpet. Sailing and photography round out Josh’s co-curricular activities. – Louise Crean, Josh’s Mum ... Josh Crean- Swimming
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