Blind teen Ben Said, 17, proud ambassador for para Pub2Pub race
Despite his severe disability 17-year-old Ben Said’s enthusiasm for sport is helping to get others like him active. He’s the ambassador for the new para category in the Pub2Pub this year. Read his amazing story here.
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Despite being born blind in one eye and subsequently losing most of his vision in the other, Ben Said has not let his disability stop him taking part in sport.
His positive attitude has won the 17-year-old the role of ambassador for the new para category in this year’s Pub2Pub charity fun run from Dee Why to Newport.
It is the first year the competition has had a category specifically for those with a disability.
Ben, who goes to St Luke’s Grammar School, unfortunately won’t be taking part in the race this year because of stress fractures in his legs.
But he will be there on the day with his Guide Dog Jontie.
The teenager said he wanted to encourage other young disabled people to get involved in sport and said para categories help them feel included.
“It’s extremely important there are para categories in fun runs,” Ben said.
“I want to encourage local people who are disabled to give sport a go in a fun environment.”
Ben was born nearly blind in one eye due to tumours, which were removed. He also underwent chemotherapy.
Then an accident two years ago saw an elastic band he was using to help stretch pinged off injuring his other eye. Now he’s lost most of the sight in that eye too.
Although Ben can’t run at the moment, that doesn’t mean he is sitting at home with his feet up. Far from it.
He’s now thrown himself into tandem cycling and is doing more than 350kms a week, as well as working out in the gym and swimming.
“I have done sport my whole life,” Ben said. “I don’t function well without it. It makes me.”
Meanwhile, Jason ‘Buddy’ Miller, 48, (inset) is also taking part just six months after his hands and legs were amputated following a battle with sepsis in October.
He will be tackling the 3km Mona Vale Beach to Newport section and expects to complete it on his prosthetic legs in an hours.
He will be doing the walk with his daughter Jhayda.
The deadline for registering for the 13km, 6km and 3km races on Sunday is 9pm tonight.
The para category is for anyone with a physical, intellectual or vision impairment.
The 13km run between Dee Why and Newport is inaccessible for wheelchair users, who are invited to sign up for the 6km and 3km.
Got to pub2pub.com.au for more details.