Nathaniel Benee

At only 5lb 9oz, Nathan was born with cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy and was told he would be in a wheelchair and not go to main stream school. Now 13 years old, Nathan has defied the odds, achieving in 2009 the Sweyne Park School's Governor's Award for excellence. At 10, through incredible determination and practice at football, Nathan was given an opportunity to play for EPCP Spurs (Emerson Park Cerebral Palsy Tottenham Hotspur) and has been selected for the England Cerebral Palsy Team. Throughout school, Nathan finds it difficult to move around, falling over and breaking bones at times, yet he never gives up. Nathan is fantastic in every aspect of life grasping every opportunity and challenge whilst remaining positive at all times. Nathan at school once said 'I feel that even though my hands don't work properly my feet have a mind of their own sometimes and I can't do some things that other children can (like ride a bike etc), but I always get on with things to the best of my ability'. It was no surprise he won the Rayleigh Town Council Disabled Junior Sports Person 2011 Award. Nathan is a truly inspirational young man.