Thursday, April 23, 2009

British teen with CP wins Rotary award for coaching

From the BBC:

A teenager from Kent who has overcome a disability to train others to achieve sporting success has been chosen to receive a Rotary Young Citizens Award.

Christopher Myers, 18, from Sevenoaks, in Kent, (pictured) has total body cerebral palsy, and has to use a voice communicator.

He coaches and referees other young disabled people in the Paralympic sport of adapted bowls, known as Boccia.

Last year, Christopher assisted with the Surrey Youth Games for more than 100 disabled children.

Boccia is a sport designed for athletes with cerebral palsy, and originates from a Greek ball-tossing sport.

It is a cross between petanque and indoor bowls, with the aim to get boccia balls closer to "the jack" than opponents.

Christopher was nominated for the award by the Rotary Club of Sevenoaks Amherst.
Rotary Young Citizen is a project started by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) in association with the BBC News Channel to celebrate the positive citizenship and vital responsibilities assumed by many young people.

Christopher has said he plans "to go to college, work with students, and play more boccia".

He has also said he would like to compete at the 2012 Paralympics.

His father, Paul Myers, added: "It's the rest of the world he believes to be disabled, not him, and he is not phased by anything basically.

"He's a very determined character."

Christopher is one of five national winners who will receive awards from former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq at Rotary's annual conference in Edinburgh on April 25.