A story never told is a lesson never learnt.  Marissa started fencing at the late age of 19, but with hard work and determination she was able to reach the top of her sport in Canada. She is currently on the National team for women’s sabre fencing and on track for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Last year she qualified for Pan American Championships in Colombia and to World Championships in Hungary - she is hoping do the same this year. Check out her campaign here.

Julia's journey so far, has not been easy. And with her aspirations in the the Karate1 WKF Premier League in Okinawa, Japan, it will not get any easier. Julia will face a field of experienced, ultra-talented martial artists: “The Karate1 WKF Premier League is the prime event in the world ... It's aim is to bring together the best Karate competitors in the world in a series of open championships of unprecedented scale and quality.”

Some thought she was crazy, some thought she would never make it. A career ending injury crushed down Tara’s ski jumping aspirations. Years of rehab and a successful run at biathlon, only resulted in her longing to be back at the big ski jumping hill. After only 4 practice sessions she decided to compete at the National championships. Incredibly, she ended up 5th - posting the 3rd largest jump among all american world cup jumpers. This qualified her for continental cups in Germany and Finland.

“It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Contrary to the usual success stories, this one came to us not at a moment of celebration but following defeat. Chris Hamilton came to MAKEACHAMP to raise funds to help him qualify for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.