LIFE OF RYAN

Things are looking good for defiant lad who’s the only one in the world with chromosome condition

DEFIANT Ryan Anstey has overcome the odds to represent his country.

Ryan had a tough start to life and developed later than children of a similar age.

Noticing something was not quite right, his parents, Nick and Bev, took him to the doctor’s, where he underwent tests by geneticists.

It was they who discovered there was an abnormality with one of his chromosomes – a part-duplication of the ‘long arm’ of chromosome 13, which was unique to Ryan.

Nick said nobody else in the world had the defect and doctors said that it would lead to Ryan having learning difficulties.

It meant that as he grew up, Ryan, of Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, struggled with maths and English, and felt and acted differently from other children his age.

He also has autistic traits and watches things over and over again until he knows them off by heart.

But as youngster, he found a passion for football and went on to join the Beamish Dynamos – a special needs football team.

Now the 21-year-old has been selected to represent the UK at the World Special Olympic Games in the Middle East.

He said: “I’m over the moon. I’m really looking forward to going out there to represent my country.

“It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an experience not many people get.”

The call-up comes after Ryan was picked to represent the Northern region at the UK Special Olympics last year.

Ryan and his team-mates went on to win a gold medal for their disability level.

“I loved it,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

After the event, Ryan applied for a place at the World Special Olympic Games, which will be held in Abu Dhabi in March next year.

To secure a place on the squad, he attended trials and was up against players from across the UK.

He said: “It was an unbelievable feeling to find out I was selected.

“There were quite a few other people at the trials.” Ryan’s Beamish Dynamos team-mate Liam Lister has also been called up for the squad, along with the club’s management team Bobby Coltman and Anthony Marsden. Ryan said playing for the Beamish Dynamos had helped him develop his confidence. He said: “It has helped me a lot and my manager Anthony Marsden has been brilliant. “I trust him 100% and he’s really helped me through football and made me a better player.” Players must raise £2,500 to make the trip to the Middle East. Ryan’s family has set up a crowdfunding page, with more than £1,600 already raised for the trip. “I am over the moon at how well it is going,” Ryan said. “People have been leaving comments to congratulate me, which is amazing.” Away from football, Ryan, who attends New College Durham, is studying catering and hospitality and dreams of becoming a chef and working front of house. He said: “I like meeting different people and having a bit of chat with them. “I have always liked cooking and had a passion for it since I was quite young.” To donate to Ryan’s fundraising campaign, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nicholasanstey-1

It was an unbelievable feeling to find out I was selected. There were quite a few people at the trials Ryan Anstey