Jack Binstead

How brave Jack overcame brittle bone disease to become a champion wheelchair racer

Jack was just four weeks old when he suddenly started howling in pain. Terrified, his mum Penny took him to the hospital where it was revealed that he had a broken leg.

"I had no idea how it had happened," says Penny.

Then just four weeks later, she was cradling her newborn son in her arms, when she heard a crack. This time, Jack's arm had broken.

"That's when I began to suspect that he might have brittle bone disease," recalls Penny.

Brittle bones

Doctors confirmed the diagnosis just before Jack's first birthday. Since then, the 10-year-old from Surrey has suffered a further 45 fractures and is now confined to a wheelchair.

But just because he can't use his legs, it doesn't mean Jack doesn't enjoy keeping fit. And in January last year, he took up wheelchair racing.

His efforts were rewarded when he took first prize in his first race. He then set his sights on taking part in the Mini London Marathon earlier this year.

But disaster struck just five days before the race when Jack broke his leg in two places. He was in agony, but pleaded with doctors to be allowed to do the race.

"Then his leg began to swell, and he needed morphine for the pain," says Penny.  "I was convinced his dream was over.

"But Jack awoke the next day and asked if he could sit in his racing wheelchair. He then said his leg didn't hurt too much, and that he wanted to go ahead with the race."

Amazingly, Jack was first to cross the finishing line.

"I cried when Jack won," says Penny. "Not only had he completed it with a broken leg, but he also achieved a personal best. He's an amazing and courageous young boy."