Harri Jenkins

Hi! My name is Harri and I am 14 years old. I have cerebral palsy and am a wheelchair user. I live in Wales and really love sport. I support Swansea City football team and The Ospreys rugby team. I am a season ticket holder and go to as many matches as possible. It is difficult to travel to away matches as many older grounds have such poor facilities for visiting disabled supporters and we are not allowed to sit together as a family.

I like to keep active and take part in lots of sporting activities. I train with the Welsh Talent academy in athletics and basketball.  Last year I joined a new wheelchair basketball team and I love it. I recently played for the Welsh junior squad in the regional championships and have also been invited to play for a senior team in Cardiff. It is often tough for young people with disabilities to find local groups that suit their needs and I have to travel great distances to take part in the sports I love. I also ski on a monthly basis at a local dry ski centre. Last year I travelled to La Plagne in France with a local charity and skied independently for the first time. Specialist equipment is extremely important for all disabled sports but is very expensive.

I was very proud to be the Welsh representative on the Whizz Kidz kids’ board, a post I held for three years.  You might be able to spot me in their cinema and television advert – I’m the one knocking the door and “pushing” away!  In my time on the board we have spoken to many MPs and encouraged them to think about how they could improve wheelchair services for all children. I think it is really important that all children receive the right equipment. It can be difficult getting around in a wheelchair and it is even harder if you don’t have the correct chair. Shops and restaurants can prove to be very challenging. I continue to work for Whizz kidz at a local level with the opening of new ambassadors clubs.

I love playing on game consoles. The Wii is great but it is impossible for me to use Wii Fit. The software manufacturers and designers completely ignore disability. Why have they not included the Paralympics in some of their titles? Wheelchair racing could be awesome on a console! I think this is something for them to think about with 2012 coming up.

I am studying for GCSE’s at the moment and languages are my favourite subjects. I have a support assistant who helps me throughout the day as I can get very tired. The cerebral palsy affects my arms and hands as well as my legs so everyday tasks such as writing can be quite exhausting but I am determined to do well and hope too go to university in the future.

Other than that I like to hang out with my mates, go to youth club, and mess around with my two brothers.

Just because I’m in a wheelchair doesn’t mean I don’t like to have fun it just means that sometimes I have to find a different way to do things. Anything is possible if you try hard enough!