Hi I’m Bobby, I’m 25 and I have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which means my muscles are weaker than normal and I use a wheelchair full time.

I’ve been playing wheelchair football for Hull and East Yorkshire PFC since 2014. Wheelchair football is a sport played between 2 teams of 4 players, using a large football and chairs with bumpers to hit the ball. I currently play for the club’s academy team. Since I started playing football it gave me a chance to play a competitive team sport, something I was unable to do when I was younger, due to my condition.

I currently use a storm that the club lends to me. The storm allows me to play football, but it is slow which means it has limited manoeuvrability, and I’m not well supported in it. This is preventing me from playing at my best which is then preventing me from reaching my potential and from being able to play in the first team, at a higher level of wheelchair football.

I’m aiming to progress as far as possible, but to be able to play at a higher level, I require a better chair. I’m at a disadvantage with the storm against other players as I’m unable to keep up with faster chairs. The chair I am looking to purchase is the strikeforce. The strikeforce is much faster than the chair I’m using now, and I’ll be able to keep up with other players. I’ll be able to hit the ball with more power and be more supported which will allow me to perform better.

I’d appreciate very much if you could help me in raising money for a new football chair. It will allow me to reach my potential and help me progress into the first team.

The club regularly has new players wanting to play wheelchair football and by getting my own chair, I’ll be able to give the storm back to the club and it will give someone else the chance to give this sport a try.