Bemedalled Filipino-American skateboarder Christiana Means is hoping to rake up funds to have surgery on an ACL injury.
Multi-medalled national team skateboarder Christiana Means is calling for donations as she deals with a serious knee injury, after previously spraining her MCL while skateboarding.
Means, who won three medals (one gold and two silvers) during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, shared her recent struggles on social media, where she also set up a GoFundMe page.
Among the top skateboarders representing the Philippines along with Olympian and Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal, Means said that the well has run dry for her personal funds and is now left with no choice but to ask for help.
In 2019, Means won gold in the Skateboarding Park event while finishing second to Didal in the Game of Skate and Skateboarding Street event.
“I’ve paid for multiple MRIs, physical therapy sessions, and specialist appointments — all out of pocket. I’ve tried for months to get insurance help — no one will cover it. I’m out of options.” wrote Means.
“I’ve tried to handle it privately and independently for as long as I could but I’ve hit the wall financially and emotionally.” she added.
The surgery will treat the sprained MCL, as well as repair an ACL tear which was aggravated as she tended to the initial MCL injury nine months ago.
“I’m not one to ask for help, I’ve always survived on my own… I know times a tough time for everyone right now. This isn’t easy to ask. But if you can [help], I’ll be forever thankful and I will work harder than ever in return,” she said.