Sprint to success: Mossman young athlete seeks community support in pursuit of life-changing opportunity
TRACK AND FIELD STAR
Ezical Masi Lasana, a 15-year-old Mossman athlete excelling in Track and Field, is on the cusp of a life-changing opportunity as he has been scouted to attend a prestigious Brisbane sports school. Yet, this opportunity brings significant financial challenges, prompting his single mother to initiate a fundraising campaign.
Juggling the responsibilities of raising a family of three as a single mother, Helen Masi has often leaned on loans and meticulously budgeted to cover Ezi’s representative sports expenses, sacrificing holidays and adhering to strict financial measures.
“When we learned Ezi was scouted for the prestigious school in Brisbane, I was in shock. It was an honour, but the next realisation was, how do we fund this?,” Ms Masi expressed.
To support three years of boarding and tuition at the Brisbane school, a total of $50,000 is needed, a sum beyond Ms Masi’s individual means. The fundraising campaign's goal is to amass this total over three years, with nearly $800 raised so far.
“While he may stay with families this year to cut costs, I hope to raise enough for him to board next year,” Ms Masi said, noting that scholarships often prioritise Indigenous children, which doesn't apply to Ezi due to his African and Papua New Guinean background.
Ezi's journey in sports began at the age of 4 with the Douglas Dragons soccer club.
Representing Far North Queensland since the age of 9, he quickly distinguished himself, earning consecutive Players of the Carnival trophies.
His versatility shone through as he excelled in volleyball, reaching the State Championships.
However, it was his unexpected foray into Track and Field in September that truly set his journey ablaze.
Despite minimal training, Ezi not only secured a spot on the regional sprinting team but also achieved personal bests in the 100m and 200m events.
These remarkable performances caught the attention of scouts and paved the way for an unexpected invitation to study at a prestigious sports school in Brisbane.
As for Ezi’s reaction to living away from home without his Mum, surprisingly, he's excited about the opportunity.
"He's one of those kids who's quite independent,” Ms Masi shared. “When we discussed this opportunity and I asked him how he would feel being away from home, he confidently responded, “I’ll be fine, I know I won't have Mum or my friends there, but I'll make new friends.”
Click here to contribute and be a part of Ezi's journey.