National goalball captain seeks community’s help

A paralympics athlete in Coral Springs, who is the captain of the national team in his chosen sport, is seeking help fromthe community to achieve his biggest dream - having his family watch him as he participates in 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, from Sept. 7-18.

Tyler Merren, who leads the U.S. men’s goalball team, will be participating in his third Paralympics. Born blind, the Coral Springs resident made history when he became the youngest player to make the USA Paralympic team at the age of 17, just three years after he started playing goalball, a team sport for blind athletes.

“I represented the national team in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games in Athens and Beijing,” Merren said. “I am 31years old; in theworld of athletes, I am coming toward the end ofmy years. My family has never been able to see me compete at the Paralympic level; Rio couldwell be the last opportunity for them to see me compete on the big stage. I really want them to be there.”

Merren is internationally known among those who followthe sport. “Iwas the fourth highest scorer at the 2010World Championships in Finland,” he said. “Iwas the top ranked player at theworld championships thatwas held in Finland in 2014. Our team won the bronze medal in Athens and finished fourth in Beijing. We are one of the elite teams this time; we qualified for Rio by coming third at theworld championships thatwas held in Finland in 2014.”

Along with training hard for the Games andworking as assistant manager at a fitness center in Coral Springs, Merren has been busy trying to raise funds to make his family’s dream come true. In addition to seeking help from friends and family members, he has also set up a GoFundMe page with the hope of getting help fromthe community.

“I will be able to get them there, at least for a few days, if I amable to raise about $6,000.” Merren, who recently spoke at a City Commission meeting, said. “Iamtry--

ing hard. I amoptimistic that the community will wholeheartedly support me.”

“It is great that the captain of the national team is fromCoral Springs,” Commissioner Lou Cimaglia said. “Tyler has a lot of guts and determination; he is an amazing young man. I know my city; I amsure that our residents will come together and help this young man out.”

Goalball, created in Germany afterWorldWar II to provide blindedwar veterans with a form of recreation, is a sport for blind and legally blind people.“My condition gets worse as I get older, but I have a little bit of light perception inmy left eye,” saidMerren, whowas born with retinitis pigmentosa. “It is a non-visual sport. Whenwe play, we play blindfolded.”

To donate, visitsMerren’s Road to Rio GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com /fzkjfw44. Email twmerren@gmail.com.

Arun Sivasankaran can be reached at asivasankaran @tribpub.com.