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Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Swimming

I am a Paralympic Swimmer making a bid for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. I am classified as an S14 (Swimmer with an Intellectual Disability). I won 2 gold medals at the 2011 Para Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, a bronze medal at the Global Games in Liguria, Italy (2011) and competed for Canada at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. From there I competed at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Montreal and then in April 2014 I blacked out in practice and was diagnosed with heart block. After receiving a pacemaker implant and resuming training I blacked out once again in the pool and this time was diagnosed epileptic. I competed for Canada at the 2015 Para Pan Am Games and won 3 silvers and a bronze medal. On medication and seizure free I am looking for support to help pay coaching/lane rental and travel expenses to attend the 2016 Paralympic Trials in Toronto and beyond. I am training by myself with the help of my mom, the Okotoks Masters Swim Club coaches and private coaching and have spent most of my savings on private coaching, lane rental and travel to major competitions.

I am raising money to pay for private coaching, personal training, lane rental and expenses incurred in travelling to major competitions as I prepare for and compete in Paralympic Trials in Toronto in April, 2016 and beyond.

I have volunteered teaching swim lessons at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, and have given speeches at schools about my Paralympic experience. I have also attended a special "fun day" for some of the younger swimmers at the Foothills Stingrays Swim Club where I held some swim races and handed prizes from various swim meets I have attended. I have also donated some of my Swim Canada team shirts to be given out as prizes to swimmers in the local area.

Campaign Givebacks

Secret Supporter

$20.00 CAD

2 contributors

If you wish to remain anonymous, I thank you for your support and would be happy to send you an email updating you on my progress.
Swim Booster

$50.00 CAD

5 contributors

I would like to post a thank you on Facebook and Twitter thanking you for your support and the next time I see you, I would like to give you a hand shake or a hug.
Team Canada T-shirt

$100.00 CAD

4 contributors

I would be happy to autograph and provide you with one of my Team Canada t-shirts from various international swim meets that I have attended. I'll also post a thank you note to you on Facebook and Twitter.
Dave Holland Photograph

$250.00 CAD

0 contributors

I will provide you with an autographed, framed 8 x 10 photo of me by professional photographer Dave Holland ( http://www.daveholland.ca ). I will also gladly thank you on my Facebook and Twitter pages and give you a high five the next time I see you.
My Time is Your Time

$500.00 CAD

1 contributors

I will gladly speak to a group of your choosing about my Paralympic and training experiences (in the southern or central Alberta area only please). This could involve a pep talk to a group of swimmers or a school group or a maybe a one hour private lesson with me in the pool. I will post a picture/description of this experience on Facebook/Twitter.
2012 London Paralympic Medal Ceremony Jacket

$1,000.00 CAD

1 contributors

I will autograph and give to you my Canadian Paralympic Team 2012 Medal Ceremony Jacket and a picture of me holding the 2012 Olympic Torch (wearing my team gear). I will also add a personal appearance by me to a group of your choosing, whether it be to a group of your peers, workplace group or an hour of coaching by me in the pool (southern and central Alberta only please). I will also post a picture of my appearance with the group of your choosing on Facebook and Twitter.

*SOLD OUT!*

Campaign Contributors

42 contributors

Campaign MVP

Vinay and Bhavini Ruparell

pledged $1000

Kirstie -- Paralympic Trials Update

2016-04-10 21:01:26 UTC
Kirstie competed in Toronto this past week at Paralympic Trials. She was in her best physical shape ever going into these trials. There were a lot of good races here in Toronto and unfortunately a lot of near misses. Unfortunately Kirstie's best event, her 100 backstroke was left til Day 5 and she went out too hard and didn't make that top 8 world ranking that she needed to make the team. She is understandably very upset as she made that standard 3 weeks earlier. Kirstie will not represent Canada at the Paralympics this year. She is going to continue competing and working toward representing Canada at the elite level again very soon. Thank you so much to everyone for your support.
New Canadian record for Kirstie in the 100m backstroke at Man/Sask Provincial Championship

2016-03-22 19:26:37 UTC
Kirstie just swam her fastest ever 100m backstroke and set a new Canadian record -- 1:13.79 in the S14 Para category (for swimmers with an Intellectual Disability). That time is exactly where she needs to be 22 days from now -- at Olympic/Paralympic Trials -- to make a top 8 ranking in the world and be selected to the 2016 Canadian Paralympic team to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Kirstie also set another Canadian record in the 50m backstroke on Sunday. Way to go Kirstie! If you can help support Kirstie in her pursu.it campaign, you have just 8 days to help her reach her goal. Congratulations to Kirstie and thanks so much for everyone who has supported Kirstie in her journey:) photo by Daren Calabrese.
Kirstie Kasko receives an outpouring of support with her pursu.it campaign

2016-03-01 13:51:22 UTC

Good evening. Just 34 days to go until I head to Toronto for Olympic/Paralympic Trials. I'm working hard in and out of the pool and both my speed and endurance are picking up. Lorna Thiem at Natural High has been providing me with some great strengthening and endurance work too and I'm sure my pool and dryland work will pay off big in Toronto. I am overwhelmed with the support I have received from friends, friends of friends and people I have never met (but hope to meet). Today my campaign reached $3450 -- over half-way to my goal. I'm looking forward to speaking to a group of preschoolers in Okotoks on Wednesday to spread the word about the Paralympics and my experience there in 2012. I'm also looking forward to some more up and coming public speaking engagements at local schools. I love swimming and competing and sharing my story. I'm off to Saskatoon on March 17th to a tri-Provincial swim meet where I'll test the waters before heading off to Toronto for my biggest meet this year. Okotoks Online just did an interview and video of me training at the Okotoks pool last Friday. Please check it out and share this on Facebook and other social media. My pursu.it link is: https://www.pursu.it/campaigns/157 Thanks so much for your support everyone:) http://okotoksonline.com/local/31536-young-okotoks-paralympian-is-dreaming-of-rio

Kirstie Kasko Campaign Complete

$6,030.00

pledged of $6,000.00 goal

42

backers

$20.00 CAD

2 contributors

$50.00 CAD

5 contributors

$100.00 CAD

4 contributors

$250.00 CAD

0 contributors

$500.00 CAD

1 contributors

$1,000.00 CAD

1 contributors

Kirstie -- Paralympic Trials Update

2016-04-10 21:01:26 UTC

New Canadian record for Kirstie in the 100m backstroke at Man/Sask Provincial Championship

2016-03-22 19:26:37 UTC

Kirstie Kasko receives an outpouring of support with her pursu.it campaign

2016-03-01 13:51:22 UTC