At Foundation 92, we believe every young person deserves the chance to feel confident, included and celebrated. This season, one very special participant from Lewis Street Primary School reminded us exactly why that mission matters.
Rizwan was born with Fibular hemimelia, a rare condition affecting the lower leg. After undergoing an amputation at a young age, he recently spent several months in a wheelchair while awaiting his prosthetic leg. During this time, Lewis Street Primary School contacted Foundation 92 as Rizwan’s confidence in PE and physical activity had significantly declined.
Working closely with school staff, our Education Officers delivered a 12-week programme of one-to-one support, using fun and engaging activities to help him rebuild his confidence in a safe environment. Shortly after the intervention began, Rizwan was fitted with his prosthetic leg and began walking again, a huge milestone.
Seeing his determination and progress, sessions increased to twice weekly to ensure he had the right level of support. Week by week, his confidence grew. The smile on his face each time he conquered a new challenge spoke volumes about the impact of consistent encouragement and belief.
To celebrate his resilience and hard work, Rizwan was selected for our ‘My Special Day’ mascot experience with Salford City FC. On the day, he received a new home shirt, met the players, walked out with Kadeem Harris and took part in a half-time penalty shootout.
Most importantly, he walked out.
For Rizwan, who had only recently started walking again, leading the team onto the pitch was an unforgettable moment for him and his family.
Lewis Street Primary School Teaching Assistant, Rachael Hall, said:
“He has been in a wheelchair for around eight months, which has held him back from so many opportunities around school. He has lacked confidence with physical activity during that time, but he has just recently had a prosthetic leg which he has started to use. He is so excited he can walk again. For him to walk out with the Salford City team was amazing. His teacher even said he wanted to go and see him walk out. He has had everyone crying this last week.”
At Foundation 92, we are proud to continue creating experiences that inspire confidence, resilience and lifelong memories across our community.
Rizwan’s story shows how targeted support, encouragement and opportunity can make a lasting difference to young people across our community.
You can watch Rizwan’s Story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXcAI-ruys4
To find out more about our Education offer please contact Emily.Ashworth@foundation92.co.uk