Nicholas Scott's dream of playing with the Wollongong Roller Hawks may one day become a reality thanks to a new customised basketball wheelchair.
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The 18-year-old was presented with the new $4600 Invacare Australia wheelchair at Shellharbour Basketball Stadium on Tuesday thanks to charity KidzWish.
It was the perfect gift for Nicholas, who suffers from the rare femur fibula ulna syndrome, which affects his mobility but never his positive attitude to life.
"I have short femurs [thigh bones] and have had an operation on my left leg and wear a prosthetic leg on my right to even up my hips so I walk a bit straighter," he said.
"While I have a disability, I don't think of me being different though. I don't worry if something is usually done a certain way - I just find my own way to do it."
That certainly applies to his sport of choice, basketball. The former Oak Flats High School student began playing wheelchair basketball in the KidzWish Wheelies sports academy program four years ago and was appointed as a volunteer coach in 2013.
Last year Nicholas was selected in the NSW junior squad which competed in the SLAM Down Under and earlier this year was promoted to the Junior Roller Hawks development program.
Now he has his eyes on a spot in the main team.
"That's my dream," he said. "With this new chair I'll be able to do more competitions and spend more time playing the sport I like, being around people who are friendly and having a good time."
Joining Nicholas to test out his new chair on Tuesday afternoon was double amputee Frank Dushimirimana, who also received a basketball wheelchair last year as part of the KidzWish Love and Laughter Appeals program.
KidzWish spokesman Karouna Michael said the program aimed to help Illawarra children who were sick, disabled or disadvantaged with equipment to improve their general health and independence.
Mr Michael said while Nicholas had been using a rented chair from Wheelchair Sports NSW, the lack of a custom chair had hindered his progress.
"The new chair will help Nick's ability to change direction and improve his balance for shooting," he said.
"We hope this will increase his chances of team selection at an upcoming NSW training camp later this year."
Mr Michael said the Greater Building Society was a big supporter of the appeals program, providing $25,000 to help grant requests to 10 Illawarra kids with special needs.
