Andy’s new dream
Ex racer helping young paraplegics with life
ANDY Hensel can’t offer disabled youths much but what he can give them is possibly the most important gift they’ll ever receive.
“Sometimes they just need a mate,” the 27-year-old says of his motivation for launching What Disability, a notfor-profit foundation aimed at mentoring and inspiring people just like him – young spinal cord injury victims.
“I’m not going to sit there and tell them everything’s OK. I’ll probably tell them it sucks at times but every day is a new day and I’m proof they can still do stuff.
“Having an able-bodied person at rehab tell you what it’s like to be in a wheelchair is all well and good, but it’s not realistic.”
Andy knows all about reality. Five years ago he was one of the country’s top 20 freestyle motocross riders. Then came the jump that went wrong and Andy was staring at a new future.
With a T7 incomplete spinal injury, he migrated from South Australia to the Gold Coast to access the intensive rehab on offer at Burleigh’s Making Strides.
With the help of mates, he devised a modified motorbike that saw him gain fame as the paraplegic rider who performed a backflip.
Now, having realised his dream of one day walking again will likely remain a dream, he is throwing his energy at helping others.
“Andy is proof you can be in a chair and still be cool,” said partner Emily Wright.
“He has a girlfriend. He can drive. Imagine if one day a week, a cool dude in a wheelchair picks up your child and takes them to play video games or talk about motocross.
“The sooner Andy can connect with young people in a similar situation the better for both them and him.”
What Disability is also raising funds for a suitable vehicle to transport participants to and from activities.