I'm Fran and BMX has been my "life" for the last 17 years .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stLLUCIH9Ac&t=2s

Besides doing it for love, sport is also my job. As a self-employed craftsman, I do BMX training, I'm a snowboard and ski instructor, and I also do videography. Everything I do depends on my body being healthy and functional.

Until June 6th, I thought I was lucky. In all those 17 years, I had suffered countless falls, bumps, cuts, and sprains, but never a serious injury that required a long recovery. That day, during one of the simpler tricks, I landed wrong and felt the most severe pain I had ever experienced, and I knew immediately that something was wrong with my knee.

After an MRI, X-rays, and visits to several private orthopedic surgeons, the diagnosis was made – a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) . All doctors agreed that surgery was the only way for me to return to sports and a normal life at the level I wanted.

Unfortunately, waiting lists in public health care mean waiting from 9 months to even 2 years . I simply don't have that much time. Every month of waiting means longer recovery, loss of work, and a diminishing chance of returning to the level of activity I was at.

That's why I made the decision - I will have the surgery done privately.

This carries a huge financial burden. The final amount is still unknown as there is a possibility of additional damage to the knee, but in addition to the surgery itself, there will be months of rehabilitation, physiotherapy and all the other costs needed to walk normally again, work and play the sports I love.

I never expected to find myself in a situation where, due to an injury, I could no longer do the job I love or earn a living. I'm not looking for pity. I'm aware that extreme sports carry risks and I've always accepted them. But this time, I need help to get back on my feet as soon as possible.

Many people have asked me in recent weeks how they can help, so I decided to open this "fund me" campaign.

If you know me, you know how much sport means to me and how much it has shaped my life. If you don't know me, I hope you recognize in this story a person who just wants a chance to get back to what they love.

All money raised will be used exclusively for:

• knee surgery (6000eur)
• rehabilitation and physiotherapy (2000 eur)
• recovery costs until full functionality is restored.

Every donation, regardless of the amount, and every share of this campaign means a lot to me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, trust and the opportunity to get back into extreme sports :)

Fran Zeman