Young '˜Starr' wins award for being an inspiration

Nathan Freeman was born with cerebral palsy and became a wheelchair user when he was 10 years old.

A spokesperson for The Starr Trust, a Hove-based charity which helps young people fulfil their dreams, said: “Nathan always loved sport and was determined to find a way to continue in spite of losing the use of his legs.

“He joined an athletics club in 2013 and began wheelchair racing which he loved as it was the closest he got to running.

“As he grew the cost of a new racing chair became prohibitive for his family.”

His mum Kim applied to The Starr Trust for an Edward Starr Award and the charity paid for a custom made racing chair for Nathan in 2015.

Since then Nathan has been busy competing all over the UK and was able to enter his first London Mini Marathon earlier this year where he won a Bronze medal.

Now, Nathan wants to represent team GB in the Paralympics 2020 and Nicole Carman from the Starr Trust said the charity ‘could not be prouder’ of his achievements.

The Diana Award was established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. Nathan was one of only 750 young people to receive one.