Cassidy competing in the 1500 metre in the London Paralympics in 2012.

Megan Dunn, Saugeen Shores Hub

Burgoyne’s Josh Cassidy will again be representing Team Canada at his third Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he will be a part of the track team and race in the 800, 1500, and 5000 metre men’s wheelchair races.

The Paralympian received silver medals in the three races at the Parapan Am Games held in Toronto in 2015. Cassidy was disappointed that because of Canadian selection criteria no Canadians will be competing in the marathon race, a race in which he finished 12th place at the London Olympics in 2012. “I’m still hoping that will change,” Cassidy said in a video to his fans on August 16, as he has submitted an an appeal.

In his video, Cassidy explained that he is taking the time to focus on his training as well as his upcoming track events. “I got my new chair and I’ve finally got it working where I need it to be. Things are going well. I’m focussed a couple of weeks out and I’m anticipating my start in Rio,” said Cassidy whose first race will take place on September 9.

“My goal is gold,” said Cassidy in an interview August 19. “Every colour of medal is almost as good as gold in my sport. We have more athletes that could win a medal than will even be able to make a final. It's almost a coin toss. But you do everything you can to have the performance you want, create the outcome you believe in. I want to be proud and have the best races of my life,” he continued.

Cassidy’s mother and her husband will be travelling to Rio to watch him compete. The announcement for who made Team Canada was just recently released which has made it difficult for his family and support system to plan ahead.

“I had wanted to bring a lot of my personal support team,” which would have included, among others, his three coaches and therapists, “but funding has been restricted this year,” admitted Cassidy.

In June, Cassidy started a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising $60,000 to help with costs associated with his journey to Rio, including travel expenses, training camps, international qualifying competitions, proper nutrition, rehabilitation, and a new- as well as a back up- racing chair. In just two months the page has raised over $10,000 for the Paralympian, which has allowed Cassidy, who has consumed a large amount of personal debt trying to achieve his dream; a chance at Rio and a new chair.

“When you consider all of the equipment costs, travel costs for camps and accommodations, etcetera, it's not really difficult to imagine $60,000 being used to go to training,” said Cassidy. He continued, “the intense training leaves little time for work... particularly during big Games years, which now, at this level, is every year- for a World Championships, Commonwealth, Olympics and Paralympics.” Cassidy said that with funding cuts a lot of Canadian athletes have had to come up with other means to raise money.

“There have been many Canadian athletes using crowd funding this year and the support has been amazing. It really hits home, how much Canadians are doing their part, in some way, to help our top athletes represent and perform.”

Cassidy credits CIBC for stepping up and helping him achieve his goals in the past. Cassidy has given back by becoming a mentor for CIBC TeamNext, an initiative to help up and coming athletes and the next generation. “It’s been a pleasure watching some of these athletes be selected this year, and some even medal.”

Cassidy is glad that he traveled to Brazil last year as he said there will be no time for sightseeing when he gets there in September, where he will be racing nearly every day between September 9 and 15.

Cassidy would like to thank everyone who has contributed to his fundraising campaign and wants to thank his supporters.

“I've been so appreciative of all the support I've received, particularly from my hometown community. All of the people who have helped will be in my heart and on my mind when I am there.”

You can contribute to Josh Cassidy's journey to Rio by visiting his GoFundMe page.