My name is Stephanie Amanda Duncan and I am a 12 year old figure skater at the Huntsville Skating School and Training Academy. I have been skating for 6 years and am currently at the Juvenile Freeskate level, and Intermediate Moves in the Field level, working on the Intermediate Freeskate and Novice Moves in the Field levels.

How did I get started skating, well during my kindergarten graduation the teacher asked each student what we wanted to be when we grew up. Most of the kids said that they wanted to be a nurse, a police officer or a firefighter, my response was "I want to be an Olympic Ice Skater." My mom was surprised and in shock, she also said no, but a friend of hers from her work told me that if I got a good report card he would take me and my brother ice skating. I got straight A's and a skate date was set.

After my mom saw me on the ice she knew something was going to have to be done. She talked to my Grandma and Grandpa in Albuquerque. Grandpa said "If she wants to be an Olympic Ice Skater then we will do whatever it takes to make that happen." Grandma and Grandpa began paying for me to take classes, after about 8 months it was time for me to start taking private lessons, they continued paying for my lessons and ice time. During this same time my Grandpa was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was only given 6 months to live. He had to retire from his job of 30 years and started getting treatments. He continued paying for my skating expenses. He lived for 2 more years and continued helping with the majority of my skating. After he passed away my Grandma continued helping with my expenses.

My mom and Grandma now try to split the expenses, but its gotten harder. My mom is just a server, who's trying to get her degree in Pharmacy Technology, so money is often in question. As I move up in my levels of skating I need more ice time, more time with my coaches and more time with my personal trainer, and its become obvious that the only way this can be achieved is through sponsors and so I am looking for help in continuing my training through the levels I have yet to master.

My goals are to represent the USA in National and International competitions and to eventually represent the USA at the "2014" Winter Olympics. Why the "2014" Olympic games? Well you see I am not eligible to represent my sport at the Olympics until I am 16 and the "2014" games are the first games I'll be eligible for. Until that time I'd like to continue with my training program, which includes, on and off ice training,body conditioning, dance and nutrition, but I need some help with the expenses.