Shaw beats sporting odds to meet heroes
Keen young Timaru sportsman Sam Shaw had a dream come true when he met the All Blacks in Christchurch.
The 13-year-old met up with the likes of Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Wyatt Crockett at an All Blacks practice session as part of a Koru Care experience.
The meeting was arranged through 52-test front rower Crockett, who is an ambassador for Koru Care.
Shaw’s mother, Wendy Lang, said her son was was delighted by the opportunity to meet some of his idols. ‘‘He absolutely loved it.’’ Shaw suffered a stroke at birth and has a weakness down his left side, and has faced numerous operations.
That has not, however, stopped him playing all sorts of sports including basketball, tennis, rugby, hockey and swimming.
Shaw is also a keen skate boarder.
‘‘I love all sports, it is fun,’’ he said.
Lang said her son’s disability had not stopped him giving anything a go.
‘‘At Highfield School he has managed to make A teams in most of the sports teams.’’
Last year Shaw faced a big operation to stretch his left calf muscle and then had a reconstruction on his thumb.
‘‘Sam has a great attitude, he doesn’t see himself as any different and we don’t treat him any differently.’’
Shaw will also be heading to Los Angeles early next month as part of an Air New Zealand Koru Care experience after being nominated by a nurse at Christchurch Hospital, who had seen him regularly over the years.
The year 8 pupil said he was excited. ‘‘It will be really cool.’’
He will spend two weeks in the United States and the trip also includes watching the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team play from a corporate box.
Shaw is looking forward to going to the roller coasters of Knott’s Berry Farm and the ice hockey the most.
Koru Care is a charitable trust which gives sick and disabled children memorable experiences. It has worked with Air New Zealand for more than 30 years.
The airline makes more than 100 tickets available each year for trips to places such as Disneyland and Australia’s Gold Coast.