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Community Raises $13,000 To Send Westchester Olympian's Family To Rio

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - When Mount Vernon track superstar Deajah Stevens takes her talents to Rio de Janeiro to represent her country in the Olympics, her mother and sister will be in the stands cheering her on thanks to the help of their community.

Mount Vernon native Deajah Stevens will represent America at the Olympics.

Mount Vernon native Deajah Stevens will represent America at the Olympics.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Mount Vernon native Deajah Stevens (right) will represent America at the Olympics.

Mount Vernon native Deajah Stevens (right) will represent America at the Olympics.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Allyson Felix will not run her favorite race, the 200m, in Rio after finishing in fourth place at the U.S. Olympic Trials by 0.01 seconds. Instead Tori Bowie, Mount Vernon's Deajah Stevens and Jenna Prandini will race the event in Rio.

Photo Credit: NBC Sports

Leading up to this year’s Olympics, the Stevens’ were unsure whether they would be able to take the trip to see Deajah compete in the 200-meter dash, but with the help of several local business owners and a frantic online fundraising campaign, the community raised more than $10,000 to send the family to Brazil.

Entering her senior year at the University of Oregon, Stevens surprised many in her first attempt at qualifying for the Olympics when she finished with a time of 22.30, good enough to earn her a trip to Rio.

After supporting Deajah for nearly a decade as she competed around the country, her mother and sister are grateful to have the opportunity to see her on the world’s biggest stage.

“Deajah’s little sister Ameera and I have been supporting and encouraging her for the past eight years to keep the faith and stay determined. We now need a little support of our own,” Lakia Stevens noted. “We To keep that enthusiasm going, we need to raise enough funds to travel to Brazil to support Deajah in the next big step of her journey.”

Since starting the gofundme campaign less than three weeks ago, the Stevens have raised $13,100, exceeding their $13,000 goal.

“(Deajah) is adding to Mount Vernon’s legacy of leadership in athletics and inspiring millions of young people to pursue their dream,” Mayor Richard Thomas announced. “Mount Vernonites consider ourselves to be a family, which is why we banded together to make sure Deejah's mother and sister are able to join her in Rio and cheer her on to victory.”

There will be an Olympic send off for the Stevens family beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5 at City Hall before they head to the airport. The Opening Ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. that night and Stevens will compete on Monday, Aug. 15 in the 200-meter dash.

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