A 17‑year‑old from Cwmbran has been chosen to represent Great Britain at a major international karate tournament in the United States – and is appealing for community support to help her get there.
Morgan Mates, a first dan black belt, has trained at Cwmbran Kyokushinkai Karate since she was just four years old. She will compete at the 8th United States International Kyokushin Tournament, a prestigious event attracting top fighters from around the world.
Morgan said the sport has shaped her both inside and outside the dojo. “Over the years, it has taught me discipline, respect, confidence and resilience, and has developed me not only in karate but in life,” she said.
Dream come true
She described her selection for the Great Britain squad as a dream come true.
“I’m incredibly proud to say that I have been selected to represent Great Britain in America this January, an opportunity I did not think I would have, not even in my wildest dreams. I feel that my years of hard work, training, dedication and perseverance have paid off by providing me with this amazing opportunity.”
To help cover the costs of travel, accommodation and competition fees, Morgan has launched a GoFundMe page and is asking for donations to support her journey.
“As you can imagine competing internationally comes with significant costs,” she said “including travel, accommodation, and competition fees. I am asking for donations to help me fulfil my dreams and take advantage of this amazing opportunity that I have been given.”
Donate to Morgan Mate’s fundraiser
Donate to Morgan’s GoFundMe page here.