Injured soldier to present awards

INJURED soldier Ben Parkinson is presenting awards today to youngsters with learning difficulties and disabilities who have learned to travel independently.

Lance Bombardier Parkinson, from Doncaster, lost both legs and suffered more than 40 injuries including brain damage which affected his memory and speech in a bomb attack in Afghanistan in 2006. He will be presenting the awards to 80 youngsters, aged 11 to 19, at a ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall. They have worked with a council-based travel team, Indetravel, to use public transport rather than having to rely on taxis or minibuses.

One of them, Adam Khan, 13, from Firth Park, Sheffield, said: “I didn’t like the minibus which came to get me every day because it made me feel like a baby. I was a bit nervous at first but now I’m really excited that I can get the bus every day. I feel really grown up now and think it’s changed my life forever.”

Mr Parkinson added: “I believe that no-one should ever be allowed to tell you what you can and cannot achieve. Only you can decide that. I try to prove that in everything I do and know that these award winners have proved it too.”