A special fundraising night for Maya Gördüemel saw the Didim community do her proud by raising an incredible 52,500 TL towards her swimming advancement in Turkiye.
The night on Wednesday (June 25) was hosted at Yas-Inn, with many fundraising activities including bingo and raffles. All the proceeds will go towards financing her exploits at the Turkish Championship Finals in Kayseri, this July. Recently, Maya competed with honours in her first semi-finals of the Turkish championships.
After the fundraising night, Maya’s mum Samantha said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and supported Maya’s recent swimming fundraiser. The event was a tremendous success, with a full house of 120 guests and over 30 raffle prizes generously donated.
“While the primary goal was never just about raising money, it was about showing Maya and her team that their town is firmly behind them, offering encouragement and community spirit ahead of the Turkish Championship Finals. That said, we were truly overwhelmed by the generosity on the night.”
She said the Aquasis raffle alone raised an incredible 17,400 TL, and the standard raffle brought in 14,400 TL. Special thanks to Yasin who kindly donated his 5,000 TL winnings back to the cause, joined by nine others who also gave their winnings to the pot.
Samantha said: “The total on the night reached a phenomenal 52,500 TL. These funds will go directly towards supporting the team’s travel to Kayseri (Cappadocia) in July. In addition, over the past two weeks, I’ve also received personal donations from friends and customers to help with the purchase of Maya’s equipment, and separate from the event total.
“Maya, myself, my mum and dad, and her coach were truly moved by the outpouring of support. I’m not usually an emotional person, but I can’t blame the flow of tears. Thank you once again to everyone who has supported our journey—not just financially, but emotionally too. Your kindness means more than words can say.”
Maya’s Speech
Maya also gave a speech on the night. She said: “Good evening everyone, My name is Maya, I’m 11 years old, and I’m proud to be a swimmer at Ege Yükselen Swimming Club. I’ve been in the water for as long as I can remember—literally! I learnt to swim when I was just 6 months old, and it was my mum who taught me.
“From day one, the sea or the pool has always been our happy place. It’s where we spend most of our free time, and it’s where I feel most like myself. When I started full-time school at 7, I joined the swimming club. They were teaching all the kids how to swim, but they quickly noticed something different in me.
“They saw my potential, encouraged me, and soon I was racing in local competitions. Thanks to the incredible support around me, I’ve been lucky enough to now compete at a national level. It’s a big step—and one that I don’t take for granted. My dream is to one day swim in the Olympics. I’m still deciding whether that will be for Turkey or Team GB – but either way, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.
“I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for coming tonight—to Bish and Nemo for organising this amazing evening, to Yas Inn and Frankie for hosting, and to everyone who’s donated. Your support truly means the world. Sometimes, I see how hard things can be for my mum. That’s why your support doesn’t just help me swim—it lifts us up as a family.
“It shows me that our local town is behind us, and that makes me feel like I can do anything. Thank you so much.”