Pride of Australia Medal 2015: Rugby league legend Nathan Hindmarsh nominates Chad Graham for his courage

WHEN Chad Graham was just 16, he had an accident which left him as a quadriplegic. League Nathan Hindmarsh has nominated him for a Pride of Australia award, after Chad started the Roll101 charity.

Pride of Australia

WHEN he was just 16, Chad Graham had an accident that would change his life.

As an active, sports-crazed youngster, Chad played football from the age of three, started riding trail bikes a year later and then began racing motocross.

He was ranked second in the state in the sport when he fell off his bike while riding with friends — a split second that turned his world upside down.

He suffered a dislocated neck, leaving him a C5/C6 incomplete quadriplegic.

He spent two weeks in ICU at Westmead Hospital, six weeks at Royal North Shore Hospital and 10 months at Ryde Rehabilitation Centre, learning to live life in a wheelchair.

“I don’t even know what happened. I ended up dislocating my neck and at 16 it’s a big eye opener, but that’s the risk that comes with a sport like that,” he said.

“It was a big deal to have such a bad thing happen at a young age but I realised I had done so much at a young age that I was able to get over it and move on.”

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA AWARD

Now 24, the self-confessed adrenaline junkie is using the experience to help others in the same situation, a mission that is getting ­noticed.

Chad started charity Roll101 to help young people who have lived through similar trauma.

And he’s garnered the support of sports stars like boxer Danny Green, rugby league halfback Jamie Soward and V8 Supercars driver Steve Richards.

But he has received the most support and encouragement from his good friend, former Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh, who has nominated Chad for a Pride of Australia Award, supported by ClubsNSW.

Hindmarsh nominated Chad Graham for a Pride of Australia award because Chad is using his experiences to help others.

“When Nathan first asked me I was really ­shocked that someone of that calibre would nominate me for such an award. I’m very grateful for it, it’s a cool honour, it’s an amazing thing,” Chad said.

Hindmarsh said he was thrilled to nominate Chad for the Pride of Australia Courage Medal: “He was a young athlete, a great motocross rider, whose life was changed in an instant, and instead of giving up he’s decided to make the most of it and use his experiences to help others.

“Roll101 is going from strength to strength and I’d encourage people to get ­behind it. It’s inspirational how much of a difference this young man is making in the community through his work.’’

Chad still loves his motor sport but instead of a bike he now drives his specially made all-terrain buggy.

“I love going fast and being free and that’s what my buggy made me feel like — it made me so happy,” he said.

Next month, Chad is taking his machine to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia where he will spend four and a half weeks driving the 4800km back to Cobar in western NSW to raise money for his charity.

“I cant wait, I am so excited,” he said.

“We had a charity night and raised $60,000 – we just want to do the best we can so we can give back to people who really need it at the end of the day.”

Today is the last day to nominate someone worthy for the Pride of Australia Medal 2015.

Now in its 11th year, the News Corp Australia awards honour ordinary people doing extraordinary things across 10 categories including bravery, community spirit and inspiration.

For more information or to nominate, visit prideofaustralia.com.au