Billingshurst student with cerebral palsy wins national award for cycling determination

A Horsham teenager with cerebral palsy has been presented with a national award to celebrate his determination to ride a bicycle independently.
Alazar Sahele, 14, a student at Ingfield Manor school in Billingshurst has won a national award SUS-200629-120235001Alazar Sahele, 14, a student at Ingfield Manor school in Billingshurst has won a national award SUS-200629-120235001
Alazar Sahele, 14, a student at Ingfield Manor school in Billingshurst has won a national award SUS-200629-120235001

Alazar Sahele, 14, a student at Ingfield Manor school in Billingshurst, won Bikeability’s Trainee of the Year award after training with Wheels for All, an all abilities cycling club run by West Sussex County Council in partnership with Horsham District Council.

Hirut Hailu, Alazar’s mother, said: “We are so proud of Alazar. When I told him he had won, he didn’t believe it at first but now he’s very happy with his certificate and gift vouchers and will receive a trophy, too.

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“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the team at Ingfield Manor school for all of their support for Alzar. He loves going there and is achieving so much!”

Alazar joined the group in 2016, initially with an instructor or family member riding with him and progressed quickly to riding a fixed gear trike independently, supported by a harness.

As his muscle memory improved, he was able to move on to a rear steering recumbent trike, and through training with Wheels for All, was able to stop and start the trike himself.

Alazar can now cycle his own low rider recumbent trike well beyond the 2km per week encouraged by the club.

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Ingfield Manor School, established in the 1950s, is part of a national network of conductive education centres and currently supports 54-day students and their families.

Annette Smith, head of education at Ingfield Manor School, said: “We are very proud of Alazar for receiving this national award for his determination to ride a bicycle independently.

“Developing independence and problem solving are key skills focused on at Ingfield Manor and it is great to see these being put into practice.

“We have seen him come such a long way since he joined the school, and we’re offering him all the support he needs to reach for the stars.”

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