Paralympics dream of boy ‘who has a go at anything’

ABOY born with a hole in his spine dreams one day of appearing at the Paralympics. Harry Corness was born with a condition called spina bifida – a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord doesn’t form properly. The 10-year-old from Maghull was born with a hole at the bottom of his back which has left him with no feeling from his knees down.

This means Harry is practically wheelchair-bound and can only walk really short distances if he’s wearing leg splints. The condition means he also has problems with his bowel and bladder.

But Harry loves to keep active and hopes to break the stigma around his condition and appear at the Paralympics. Dad Mick said Harry “always has a go at anything he wants” and doesn’t let spina bifida stop him from keeping as active as his friends.

Mick, 42, said Harry is up to around seven or eight laps on his wheelchair racing, loves wheelchair basketball and boxing, and has just got a swimming badge for completing 200 metres.

Mick told the Advertiser: “I’ve always said to him to keep active and he always has a go. He never said he’s had enough and will just always give his all whatever he does. He’s got some amazing role models in the disability community who show him how to try new things.

“He’s currently working on building up his upper body strength as I’ve always said that’s what will get him through life. We’ve got him a manual chair so he’s wheeling himself around day-to-day which increases his skills and will improve his body strength. Obviously if he has aspirations of going to the Paralympics in the future he’ll get there because of that.”

Mick said the biggest challenge for Harry is being able to get around freely. The Corness family have modified their house to give Harry the space he needs to manoeuvre around in his wheelchair but it still means there are certain things he can’t do like join in with a lot of the school sporting activities. But Mick added Harry’s attitude of getting stuck in and never moaning is testament to his spirit to carry on going. Harry still plays football with his friends in the cage at break times and gets involved in as many wheelchair activities as he can.

Harry visits the Inclusive Hub in Kirkdale who have been “brilliant” and is part of the LFC Foundation and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association. He’s a huge Reds’ fan who has been to every home game for a number of years.

Mick said: “He’s a massive Liverpool fan and the supporters association have been brilliant for him. He goes to every home game and we were down at Wembley when Liverpool won the Carabao Cup. He has all the names on his shirt and his favourite player is Mo Salah.”

Mick and Harry are positive for the future and are confident new technologies and types of operation will come along and give Harry even more independence.

Mick said: “We hope in the future he can have even more independence to live his life how he wants.

“He already works so hard and does so much for himself which is amazing to see.

“We’d love to see him at the Paralympics – that’s the goal. His family and friends around him are amazing and the Paralympics is his dream.”