On track for 2019

Wed 30th January 2019

For 19year old international cyclist Georgia, 2018 proved her biggest challenge yet, but she is now back on track and looking forward to a year of competitive cycling….with a little help from her supporters which now includes The Realising Dreams Foundation.

Georgia Mansfield from Moray holds an array of cycling titles but her long term goal is to become a professional cyclist and compete in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

She holds the Scottish Junior Time trial records at 10 miles, 25miles and 50 miles.  In 2017 she was Scottish Junior Road Race Champion and in 2018 the Senior Scottish National Madison Champion. Making the move to elite level in any sport beyond regional or national achievements demands the athlete compete in international events to gain the profile and recognition needed to succeed.

Despite family financial limitations, Georgia got creative in finding much needed funding and sponsorship.  From her local area, she won over businesses that have helped with costs for bikes, maintenance and some travel and competition costs.  She also has a place cycling with the Manchester based Torelli women’s cycling team.  However, the costs of cycling are notoriously high and even with all this support she still struggles to meet the financial demands needed to move forward.

In May last year, at the peak of her cycling season, Georgia applied to our foundation looking for costs to enable her to enter and compete in high profile events. Georgia’s story so far shows exceptional talent, heart and determination to succeed.  We offered Georgia an award to cover competition costs of an upcoming race in Ireland – the Ras na mBan.

Then in September last year, Georgia sustained a serious shoulder injury in a cycling accident which put an early end to her cycling season – forcing her to pull out of upcoming races including in Ireland. Her recovery was painfully slow.

The months that followed forced Georgia to overcome not only physical but mental challenges as she battled her way back to fitness and confidence.  As Georgia herself says, “if there’s no struggle, there’s no progress”.  An impressive attitude which may well separate her from the pack as she gets back on her bike to race this year.

Georgia explained: ”2018 was a rollercoaster year. I struggled with the mental challenges as much as the physical ones but have managed to get myself back on track.  I remind myself how much I love cycling and how far I have come. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.  Everyone struggles, but it’s how you deal with it that counts.  If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress. I’m so grateful to everyone who supports me. I look forward to the challenges and experiences of 2019.”

From her blogs and social media posts it is clear that Georgia is beyond thankful to those who continue to help her realise her cycling dreams.  At The Realising Dreams Foundation we love to give back and don’t ask for anything in return.  But it is great to see someone who so openly recognises that talent isn’t always enough to get you where you want to go and that sometimes it takes a village to make it happen.

Georgia impressed us not only with her talent, grit and determination in the face of adversity but also with her willingness to embrace and give thanks to those who have helped her on her journey to success. We’re delighted to join her village and play a small part in helping her raise costs to showcase her talent in an upcoming race in 2019.  Go Georgia!

Georgia’s own blog makes for a rollercoaster read.

Georgia is racing her way into 2019