Jaguar Jonze Fundraising To Represent Australia In Freediving World Championship

Deena Lynch – also known as the musician Jaguar Jonze – was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) last year, “a disorder in which the brain and body do not function harmoniously.”

Her journey with FND has led to her embracing freediving, and now, Jaguar Jonze will represent Australia at this year’s Freediving World Championship in Cyprus. But she needs some help to get there.

Lynch explained that in February 2024, her health “collapsed,” and she was no longer able to walk without mobility aids. After being diagnosed with FND and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating autoimmune disease, she lost motor control in her arms and legs, and she experienced chronic pain.

She added that her body was “attacking” her nerves, tissues and organs. “As a musician and visual artist, known to many as Jaguar Jonze, I struggled to continue performing and create music in an industry that is mentally and physically demanding,” she wrote. “But I refused to accept that as the end of my story.”

Lynch discovered freediving as part of her body’s rehabilitation, and in September, she’ll be part of the Australian freediving team heading to Cyprus. However, without funding, reaching that milestone may not be possible.

“Freediving has saved my life. Now, I want to use the world stage to raise awareness, share my story with others facing invisible disabilities, and spotlight the intersection of sport, opportunity, and inclusivity,” Lynch wrote in a GoFundMe fundraiser.

She continued, “Here's the challenge: I haven’t been able to work while focusing on my health. For the past 20 months, I’ve had no income, relying solely on my savings and the generosity of friends, family, and supporters to get by.

“It’s an incredible honour to be selected as a national athlete. But with no official funding, I need your support to move ahead.”

Lynch is trying to raise $29,589 to cover the essentials of her getting to the Freediving World Championship.

Those essentials include $3,476 to go towards professional freediving equipment, $8,732 for the Cyprus World Championship to cover 30 days in Cyprus, acclimate, train on location, and compete; $7,592 for technical training and warm-up competitions, and $9,789 for direct support around her health limitations, including having a coach/support person to support her needs.

You can contribute to or share Lynch’s GoFundMe here.

Last February, Jaguar Jonze released a powerful new EP titled Victim Impact Statement.

In sharing the EP with the world, she wrote that it served as a gift for herself, “to return my voice and own my body – this is my protest. To remind myself why I came into art and music in the first place. To take back my potential and take up the space I deserve in this world. To rely on myself for justice.”

Her most recent album, Bunny Mode, was released in June 2022.

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