Rebecca Dubber
15 year old Rebecca Dubber is passionate about swimming and about representing New Zealand in the Paralympics. 

Rebecca has minimal use of her lower limbs and was the Parafed Auckland Junior Sportswoman after she won medals in both the 2007 Oceania Paralympic Championships and the Australian Junior Disabled Games. She holds a world ranking in the International Paralympic 100m Backstroke S7 and has claimed most of the NZ records for Women's S7 classification in Backstroke and Freestyle.

Rebecca was the face of the 2007 Variety Annual Appeal after receiving a grant for a hand cycle in 2005. Her coach believes her goal to make the Olympic team is achievable as she trains hard and is an inspiration to her whole swimming club.

The Gold Heart Scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and will provide Rebecca with funding for travel and for swimming gear.

David Ee 
David Ee's diagnosis with Verbal Dyspraxia and mild ASD has not stood in the way of his achievements on the ski field which include two gold medals in the 2007 National Championships at Cardrona for the Special Olympics. He was later nominated for the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games.

His achievements are not limited to the ski fields - he attained The Young New Zealander's Challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze) and is currently completing the Silver Award. He was also presented with the Auckland Grammar School Learning Support Unit Cup for Diligence and Determination. 

A representative from the Special Olympics Tamaki division says that David has a lot of talent and very good family support. 

David's Gold Heart Scholarship will assist him with costs related to travel, training and equipment.

Connor Endrodi
13 year old Queenstown resident Connor Endrodi is a talented athlete who has Cerebral Palsy. He won four medals at the 2006 Parafed South Island Games and was a member of the 2007 Paralympics NZ Junior Team winning five medals.

Connor's benefits from the support of his mother who is dedicated to raising funds to help him achieve his dreams of competing at Olympic level. 

Parafed Canterbury states that Connor is an extremely talented athlete who often beats senior members.

The Gold Heart Scholarship will assist Connor achieve his dream by funding coaching, equipment, gym and club memberships.

Daniel  Holt
Daniel Holt has been involved in sports from a young age playing soccer, water polo and blind sailing. In the last 18 months, he has begun swimming competively with fantastic results including winning numerous gold medal and breaking several records at the  2007 IBSA Youth and Student World Games, the 2007 Paralympic Nationals and the 2006 Southern Cross Games.

His visual impairment due to albinism has not stood in the way of his dreams and Blind Sport CEO Ray McLeod say Daniel's future in his chosen sport is promising and he is on track to compete in the 2011 IBSA World Chamionships and the 2012 London Paralympics.

Daniel's Gold Heart Scholarship will enable him to pay for costs associated with travel, coaching and entry fees to competitions.

Ian Stewart 
Auckland's Ian Stewart was seven years old when he was diagnosed with Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, specific learning difficulties and a Central Auditory Processing Disorder. Now 16, Ian has demonstrated his perserverance in achieving beyond expectations in his NCEA and excelling in film making including participating in STAR courses at the South Seas Film and Television School.

The Head of Department of Learning Support at Auckland Grammar School notes Ian's particular strength in art, computer and photography and states that he is a very worthy young man who is incredibly determined and has overcome many obstacles to reach his current level.

Following Ian's recent successful work experience at Attitude TV, the producer commented that it is very clear that, with help, Ian will be able to achieve his goal of becoming a film maker.

Ian's Gold Heart Scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and will assist him to fund a Natcoll Diploma of Digital Production course.

Ryan Leitch
Auckland student Ryan Leitch's goal is to become a Geographic Information Systems Analyst and Recorder, and despite the challenges he faces with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, he seems extremely capable after he achieved the top mark in the world for Cambridge AS Geography in the Cambridge IGCSE Exams.

Testimonials from his school note his outstanding performance, excellent attitude, level of motivation and organisation, leadership skills, self discipline and independent approach to all challenges. 

The Gold Heart Scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and will help Ryan meet the costs associated with his Bachelor of Science (Geography) degree. 

Kyra Thompson
At only 11, Kyra is a talented roller-skater with literacy difficulties and Type 1 diabetes. She has won numerous national medals and is also a NZ Cup winner.

Her coach says that Kyra is pursuring excellence at national level and achieving goals despite being a diabetic - her love of roller-skating and her commitment to the sport are rare in someone so young.

While diabetes creates issues around maintaining blood sugar levels during coaching, training and competitions, her Paediatric Diabetes Nurse Clinician talks of Kyra's positive and disciplined approach towards her diabetes management.

Kyra's Gold Heart Scholarship will provide funding for coaching and equipment including roller skates.

Brittney and Charlie Vermunt   
15 year old Brittney and Charlie Vermunt are twins who lost their father at the end of 2007 - he was their basketball coach and biggest supporter. 

Both of the girls have demonstrated real talent participating in the National Development team, Regional Development Programmes and Hawkes Bay Age Group teams.

With their strong work ethics, positive attitudes and commitment, the major obstacle to future achivement is financial. 

The Variety Gold Heart Scholarship will help provide them with funding to participate in basketball development days.

photo courtesy of The Gisborne Herald

Akayshia Williams 
Akayshia has been deaf since birth and was the recipient of a cochlear implant in November 2006.

She excels on the water in a canoe and won medals in three divisions at the 2007 Waka Ama National Junior Championships. Her achievements accumulated in her being named the Maori Sportsperson of the year with a disability at the Regional Maori Sports Awards and the Sportsperson of the year at Te Wharau School. 

Her coach is confident that with the right amount of training she will be a contender for the World Sprint Championships in New Caledonia in 2010 and comments that she has achieved goals far beyond her years.

The Variety Gold Heart Scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and will fund her coaching and travel and allow her to purchase her own canoe.

Cameron Wallace   
16 year old Cameron Wallace is passionate about working in the Outdoor Recreation and adventure areas and has already completed the first year of a Youth Search and Rescue course.

He has also attended Trace and Clue Awareness Course, a Search Methods Course and was one of four selected to attend a computer training course. 

The YSAR Programme Co-ordinator comments about Cameron's outstanding commitment to the programme, not only in his attendance, but also in his determination to master the skills required.

Cameron has expressed a desire to lead a YSAR group himself and 'share my passion with people and teach them skills which can be applied to life and help them find their own passion."

Cameron's Gold Heart Scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and assist him with funding for YSAR camp expenses including camping equipment.

Hugh McConnell   
11 year old Hugh McConnell faces many challenges to reach his dreams in trampolining and tumbling. These include epilepsy, dyspraxia, asthma and, so it seems, even his age - Hugh gained the qualifying scores to attend the World Age Championships in 2007 but was too young to compete!

His 2007 results included becoming the New Zealand and Australian National Trampoline Champion aged 10 and under, the Australian Double-Mini Champion and the New Zealand Tumbling Champion setting a New Zealand record for the degree of difficult.  

Hugh's costs to compete are added to as he is required to be accompanied by a parent to competitions - his Gold Heart Scholarship will provide him with funding for coaching, entry fees and travel costs to competitions. 

His coach notes that he is a talented and committed individual driven by goals of success seldom seen in a boy of his age. He says that watching Hugh on a trampoline one would never know the struggles faced in everyday life. 

Mary Fisher
Mary's sight impairment has not stopped her from setting a very clear vision. She dreams of swimming for New Zealand at the Paralympics in London in 2012, and has already racked up a string of achievements to prove her commitment.

In 2007 Mary participated in the Oceania Paralympics Championships in Darwin, IBSA World Youth and Student Championships in Colorado Springs, Wellington Winter Short Course Championships, AWD Regional Grand Prix 1 - Auckland Champs and the AWD Regional Grand Prix 2 in Canterbury winning numerous awards and breaking records.

She was awarded Blind Sport NZ - Jrn (U19) athlete of the year; holds tenth place in the world ranking open women's S13 100 Butterfly, won the Wellington College Sport - Code Winner for an athlete with a disability; was finalist in the Wellington College Sport Overall Sportsperson of the Year and won a Heretaunga College Sports Blue for Swimming.

Mary, from Upper Hutt, was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship to assist her with costs of competition and travel so that she can achieve the rankings she needs to qualify to reach her dream.

Breandan Malone 
Twelve year old Christchurch youth Breandan faces daily challenges dealing with Autism, Dyspraxia, and Irlens Syndrome. 'With his Autism he was always hyperactive, driven by anxiety and prone to very violent outbursts,' says Breandan's Mum. 'He started skating three years ago and from that first moment he just glided off like he was born on skates - two weeks later he started lessons. Figure skating has given him confidence and self esteem, and his concentration, motor skills and muscle tone have noticeably improved.'

'With an Autistic child's anxieties, sensory triggers and social problems, Breandan's achievements are remarkable,' she continues, 'He is a role model for other Autistic children and an inspiration to their parents to keep on trying.' 

In 2007 Breandan won gold in all the mainstream and Special Olympics Figure Skating events he entered - a total of seven gold medals!

Breandan's Variety Gold Heart Scholarship will help pay for the ice time and coaching Breandan needs to reach his dream - to compete in the World Winter Special Olympics and to achieve the highest possible standard in mainstream figure skating.

Tyler Belcher
Seventeen year old Tyler lives in Christchurch. Being confined to a wheelchair has not stopped him from striving to achieve his dream of becoming a professional tennis player and coach. He is currently ranked 4th by Wheelchair Tennis NZ at a senior level and 2nd at a junior level and is ranked 15th in the World Junior standings.

Tyler participated in the New Zealand Open and Sydney Open in January and, for the third time, he was selected to attend the World Team Cup in Italy in May 2008.

Along with his achievements in wheelchair tennis, Tyler is frequently involved in assisting up-and-coming junior members get involved in sport.

Photo courtesy of Suburban Newspapers

Daniel Carver-Shadbolt 
Sixteen year old Daniel delivers papers to help fund his passion - archery - and has already achieved numerous first places in New Zealand U16 competitions. This year he has been selected for the NZ Junior Archery team to compete against Australia in Gisborne and has had his name put forward for selection for the Outdoor Junior World Championships to be held in India. Daniel's coach believes he has huge potential and said that in 25 years of coaching he has never seen a child achieve so much. He believes Daniel is a future champion.

Daniel's father died when he was a toddler and his family face financial hardship. His Variety Gold Heart Scholarship will help fund new equipment and meet the ongoing costs of the sport he is so passionate about.

Stephanie McKenzie
Stephanie dreams of becoming the best female NZ track sprint cyclist - aiming to compete at the Australian Youth Olympics, Junior Worlds, Commonwealth Games and ultimately representing NZ at the Olympics - and she is not going to let her diabetes stop her.

In 2007, she broke the Under 15 and Under 17 NZ 500m TT record and won the Athletics Champion Trophy at Lynfield College.

This 15 year old Auckland girl is currently recording times faster than her Australian counterparts - widely accepted as the benchmark for youth cyclists. Her coach states that he has never been so impressed by the maturity, understanding and dedication of such a young athlete. "Her potential to rise to the top of the world is undeniable. Her attitude towards her diabetes is exemplary and also highlights her as a source or encouragement and inspiration for other people her age who have diabetes," he says.

Stephanie faces costs not just related to her chosen sport but also for the consumables required to manage her diabetes. Her Variety Gold Heart Scholarship will help to ensure she can continue to train and compete.