Boy, 13, responds to ‘nasty’ cyber bullying with disability charity challenge

13-year-old boy responds to 'nasty' cyberbullying with charity challenge

A 13-year-old boy with cerebral palsy is taking on a charity soccer challenge in response to "nasty" abuse he suffered on social media.

The video showed the teenager in goal for Feltham Bees, a disabled sports club affiliated with Brentford FC.
"I didn't have many followers on TikTok before I posted this video," Rhys told the PA news agency.

"But the day after it went viral, and then I got loads of fake comments."

Rhys said he was attacked "a little bit" in elementary school, but said "it's never happened that much before."

His mother Kelly Porter, 41, described some of the comments directed at her son.

She said, "A lot of people say, 'Why don't you stand up? Oh, you can't." "If you're disabled, you shouldn't be playing soccer," she said.

"A big question that stuck in my mind was, 'Why did these parents put a handicapped kid on a field full of normal kids?

"In reality, we were at a disability tournament with a range of disabilities, some visible, some not.

"For me and Dad...we knew there was nothing we could physically do about it.

"It was really frustrating...to see how many people were willing to hurt him."

Fulham- fan Rhys was born premature and has paraplegic cerebral palsy, years later he developed epilepsy.

Since receiving negative messages on social media, he has received support from Chelsea, Everton Arsenal, Brentford and the Cottagers, while his mother described him as "very strong and very resilient."

Meanwhile, Rhys is responding in his own way with a goalkeeping challenge to raise money and awareness for Scope, a disability equality charity .

"Basically, I'll be doing 20 parades a day during the Paralympics," the goalkeeper said.

"I also have my family ... we have everybody from cousins to my Nan, and we're all going to do things like, I'm going to make 20 saves and my Nan is going to run around the block."

Rhys and his family's efforts will be part of Scope's fully accessible Make It Count virtual challenge, which will run alongside the Tokyo Paralympic Games in August and September.

"The purpose of the event is so people can be involved," Ms. Porter said.

"It's not about who can get the furthest ... it's about everyone being inclusive and able to participate.

"We really, really want to bring attention to the situation Rhys has been through."

To view Rhys' fundraising page and learn more, visit https://makeitcount.scope.org.uk/fundraising/rhys-porters-fundraising-page-rhysfamilychall

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