Cerebral palsy sufferer Peter Smith is to compete in national sport finals after being determined not to let his illness hold him back.
The 13-year-old, who has been battling against cerebral palsy all of his life, has won a place in the national finals for club throwing after beating off competition in the regional finals at Gateshead Stadium.
Peter, of Walbottle, Newcastle, has to use a special walker to get around, but also has to spend a lot of his time in a wheelchair. He found inspiration through the special sport scheme Active Newcastle, a project that aims to get people more fit and active in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.
Peter, a pupil at Benfield School for Sporting Excellence, said: “I really enjoy club throwing and I got involved in the sport through Active Newcastle. Since I joined the club I started doing more sport and it has really changed my life. I can’t wait to compete in the competition.”
Emma Moynihan, disability sports development worker for Newcastle Leisure Services, teaches Peter at an after-school club.
She said: “The programme has really give him a new lease of life and given him the opportunity to get really involved in sport.
“He has come on such a long way since he started club throwing.”
Peter, who will compete in the finals in Blackpool, said his inspiration was paralympian Stephen Miller.
He added: “I have met Stephen a couple of times and I was really impressed. I hope that one day I will be as good as him.”