New Racing Wheelchair
Donation protected
In 2002, when he was 6 years old, Sheikh was hit by a car as he was crossing a road in Mombasa, Kenya. He was on his way home from school and was under the care of an adult. He lost consciousness and was taken to a local clinic by a passer-by. His spine was shattered and his nerves damaged as he was moved - without being immobilized - both in the car and in the hospital.
Doctors concentrated on his head injuries until a relative noticed that Sheikh could not move his legs. He was subsequently moved to another better-equipped hospital. Since that fateful day, Sheikh has endured an endless series of hospital visits, surgeries and therapy. He is paralyzed from the waist down; metal rods in his back support his spine.
Before the accident, Sheikh was one of the best swimmers in his school. After his accident, his parents decided to put him back into a pool as soon as they received the go-ahead from the doctors. He continued swimming, the only sport he had access to in Kenya where no other sports events and facilities are available to the disabled. Sheikh thrived and soon built impressive upper body strength. He was happy and relaxed in the water and this had a positive effect on his rehabilitation and therapy.
In 2005, Sheikh and his family moved to the United Kingdom where he discovered wheelchair racing. He took up the sport in 2007. Since then, he has successfully competed in numerous national and international competitions. Today, he is a member of the Great Britain Paralympic Team and is recognized by the British Athletics Association as an up-and-coming athlete who has the potential to compete and win medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Some of his achievements include:
Ø Four-time London Mini Marathon winner
Ø Participated in the 100m and 1500m races at the 2012 Paralympic test
Ø Represented London at the 2012 UK School Games in which he came in 1st in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m races
Ø Participated in the 2012 and 2013 Diamond League meetings
Ø Competes annually against international athletes at Swiss and Dubai Open Meetings
Ø Selected to represent Great Britain at various IWAS World Junior Games where he came 1st in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m races in 2014 and 2015
Personal Best Performances/ Current Rankings
UK 2nd in 100m, 2nd in 200m and 6th in 400m
European 8th in 100m, 11th in 200m and 15th in 400m
World 20th in 100m, 15th in 200m and 46th in 400m
Sheikh’s sports career requires significant investments: his family has to raise a large proportion of the funds needed for the equipment that puts him on a par with other better-equipped athletes. Sustaining these levels of support is proving to be a great strain both on his parents and himself.
Today, Sheikh needs a new racing chair. He aspires to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics but, without the appropriate chair, he will not be able to do this. His current racing wheelchair is 4 years old, but Sheikh is stronger and faster than he was 4 years ago and the chair he now competes with cannot respond to the stresses he puts on it. As a result, his performance is hindered and his ribs and back are strained due to the chair being too small. He is, therefore, in constant pain.
He needs your help to get a new racing chair so as to have a real chance of competing for a medal. Let’s work hand in hand to support Sheikh not only to fulfill his potential as a Paralympic champion but also as a role model for other young people, like him, who are struggling against incredible odds to transform a disability into a real ability to excel.
Doctors concentrated on his head injuries until a relative noticed that Sheikh could not move his legs. He was subsequently moved to another better-equipped hospital. Since that fateful day, Sheikh has endured an endless series of hospital visits, surgeries and therapy. He is paralyzed from the waist down; metal rods in his back support his spine.
Before the accident, Sheikh was one of the best swimmers in his school. After his accident, his parents decided to put him back into a pool as soon as they received the go-ahead from the doctors. He continued swimming, the only sport he had access to in Kenya where no other sports events and facilities are available to the disabled. Sheikh thrived and soon built impressive upper body strength. He was happy and relaxed in the water and this had a positive effect on his rehabilitation and therapy.
In 2005, Sheikh and his family moved to the United Kingdom where he discovered wheelchair racing. He took up the sport in 2007. Since then, he has successfully competed in numerous national and international competitions. Today, he is a member of the Great Britain Paralympic Team and is recognized by the British Athletics Association as an up-and-coming athlete who has the potential to compete and win medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Some of his achievements include:
Ø Four-time London Mini Marathon winner
Ø Participated in the 100m and 1500m races at the 2012 Paralympic test
Ø Represented London at the 2012 UK School Games in which he came in 1st in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m races
Ø Participated in the 2012 and 2013 Diamond League meetings
Ø Competes annually against international athletes at Swiss and Dubai Open Meetings
Ø Selected to represent Great Britain at various IWAS World Junior Games where he came 1st in the 100m and 2nd in the 200m races in 2014 and 2015
Personal Best Performances/ Current Rankings
UK 2nd in 100m, 2nd in 200m and 6th in 400m
European 8th in 100m, 11th in 200m and 15th in 400m
World 20th in 100m, 15th in 200m and 46th in 400m
Sheikh’s sports career requires significant investments: his family has to raise a large proportion of the funds needed for the equipment that puts him on a par with other better-equipped athletes. Sustaining these levels of support is proving to be a great strain both on his parents and himself.
Today, Sheikh needs a new racing chair. He aspires to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics but, without the appropriate chair, he will not be able to do this. His current racing wheelchair is 4 years old, but Sheikh is stronger and faster than he was 4 years ago and the chair he now competes with cannot respond to the stresses he puts on it. As a result, his performance is hindered and his ribs and back are strained due to the chair being too small. He is, therefore, in constant pain.
He needs your help to get a new racing chair so as to have a real chance of competing for a medal. Let’s work hand in hand to support Sheikh not only to fulfill his potential as a Paralympic champion but also as a role model for other young people, like him, who are struggling against incredible odds to transform a disability into a real ability to excel.
Organizer
Sheikh Muhidin
Organizer
