Sunbury boy gifted a $10k grant thanks to Dylan Alcott’s Ability Fest
A Sunbury boy was a hit with fans at Dylan Alcott’s Ability Fest last year and thanks to the tennis champion’s foundation he was handed a special gift.
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Sunbury boy Jin fondly recalls wheeling onto the stage at last year’s Ability Fest with wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott.
The enthusiastic 5000- strong crowd at the Coburg Velodrome chanted the young boy’s name as he posed for a photo with the star, who had organised the music festival.
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“I was nervous before we went on stage but then everybody was cheering, it was great,” Jin said.
From ticket sales and donations at the event, just under $200,000 was raised for Alcott’s foundation, which led to a $10,000 grant for Jin to purchase a new state-of-the-art wheelchair that allows the budding tennis player more mobility on court.
The nine-year-old was born in China with spinal muscular atrophy and adopted by Australian parents. The disease impacts nerves in his legs and means he is unable to support his own weight.
His father Steve Woodman said Jin connected with Alcott when the pair shared a hit of tennis at Melbourne Park.
Jin, like Alcott, also plays wheelchair basketball.
“We found him to be such an excellent role model and you’ve seen what he can achieve and Jin really aspires for all the things Dylan can do,” Mr Woodman said.
“At the end (of the festival) he was leaving there and everyone was high-fiving him and cheering him. He was like a rock star.”
Jin qualified for the junior national tennis championships late last year.
Alcott said he had watched Jin on court in his new wheelchair and it was one of his favourite memories.
“I don’t think I understood how moving it would be for every single ticket holder to see their direct impact … (the chanting is) something he will remember forever,” he said.
“The day has an essence about it which you can’t recreate. I dare anyone to come and not have a smile on their face.”
Ability Fest will be held on Sunday. Tickets: abilityfest.com.au