4:29pm Thursday 16th April 2009

Louise Hogan is a member of the Great Britain Ladies Football Team which has qualified for this year's Deaflympics to be held in Tapei, in Taiwain in September.

It is the first time the 14-year-old from Richmond Crescent, Edmonton, has had the chance to take part.

In previous years qualifying athletes were funded by the Government just like the mainstream Olympics.

But this year their money - £50,000 for 150 athletes - is going into the London 2012 instead, a project which is already over budget by billions.

Instead Louise has to raise £3,000 by the end of the month if her and her team are to compete.

She said: "When I found out I was going to go I was pleased, so excited, I was really happy and proud of myself.

"I didn't know there was such a team or that I could do it, it gave me ambition.

"But when they told me I had to raise the money I was so disappointed because I didn't think I was going to be able to go. Where am I going to get the money from?"

So far Louise and her mother Christine have raised £1,000 but they desperately need more help from sponsors and benefactors if she is to compete.

Louise's brother, Ian, 19, said Christine had been tireless in her letter writing and telephoning campaign to try and make her daughter's dream come true.

He added: "We've been saying to Louise is you carry on and play football and let us care about the money.

"I'm extremely proud of her. She's better than I was at that age and I used to play at the Watford Academy."

UK Deaf Sport, which represents deaf athletes, had its funding cut and its office closed last year.

UK Sport said there was only limited funding and had to focus on the Olympics and the Paralympics.

More than 4500 athletes and officials representing more than 94 worldwide countries are due to take part in this year's event, dedicated to deaf and hearing impaired sports people.

At the last Games in 2005, British athletes took home 16 medals including a bronze for the woman's football team.

Britain was a founder member of the Deaflympics in 1924 when it was called the World Games for the Deaf.

It was the first non able-bodied Games and preceded the Paralympics.

Since then the number of athletes taking part has grown from 145 athletes from nine European countries to an expected 3,660 from 97 countries taking part in 20 different sports.