A nine-year-old boy from Taunton has been given a new sports wheelchair to help him pursue his dreams.
Tennis prodigy Fynn, who has Perthes disease, received the chair late last month at Blackbrook Tennis and Leisure Centre.
The new chair, designed for wheelchair tennis, was funded through a partnership between the Cooper Associates Foundation, the Sports Foundation for the Disabled, and Somerset Tennis.
Fynn has been playing tennis since the end of 2023 and currently trains three times a week at the leisure centre with coaches Andrew Disney and Ivor Griffiths.
He has already shown strong potential in the sport and has set his sights on competing in tournaments by the end of the year.
Upon receiving his new chair, Fynn said: "I'm really excited to have my own chair that fits me and will help improve my tennis.
"Thank you!"
The chair was personally delivered by Jack from RGK Wheelchairs, a leading UK-based wheelchair manufacturer and supplier, who also stayed to enjoy a hit on court with the young tennis star.
Fynn’s mother, Zoe, said the support has been life-changing for her son and the whole family.
She said: "Finding out that Fynn had Perthes disease was a life-changing moment for our whole family.
"Overnight, we went from having a little boy who loved swimming, trampolining and street dance to suddenly having a child who could no longer take part in impact sports or many of the everyday activities most children enjoy.
"Everything changed in an instant."
Despite the challenges, she said Fynn has shown great resilience and positivity.
Zoe said: "So little is known about this condition that our journey has involved constant research, hospital visits and operations.
"Throughout it all, Fynn has remained resilient, positive, and a constant source of inspiration."
She described discovering tennis as a turning point that has given Fynn a sense of normality and inclusion.
She said: "Discovering tennis through Ivor and Andy has been a huge blessing.
"Fynn finally found a place where he could simply be himself and feel just like the other players.
"This new chair is the final piece of that journey.
"Now he's just the same as the other children in the LTA Regional Talent Programme, and we cannot thank the Cooper Associates Foundation and Somerset Tennis enough for helping make that possible."
The new chair also creates more opportunities for Fynn at school and beyond.
Zoe said: "His primary school, Nether Stowey, has already adapted games and playtimes so that he can be fully included, and now he'll also be able to play tennis at school as well as in his lessons in Taunton.
"Thank you to everyone who has supported Fynn and helped him simply be a kid who loves sport."
Helen Grendon from the Cooper Associates Foundation said the organisation was proud to back such an important cause.
She said: "We're proud to support Somerset Tennis and the Lawn Tennis Association with a new wheelchair for the Open Court Programme, helping make tennis more accessible to all.
"Supporting our community is at the heart of what the Cooper Associates Foundation is all about."
Fynn has also impressed those supporting his tennis journey.
Andy Fay, chair of Somerset Tennis, said: "I have been lucky enough to see Fynn play and was immediately struck by his infectious enthusiasm and natural talent.
"It is a pleasure for Somerset Tennis to support him in reaching his full potential.
"Fynn is already proving to be a fantastic role model for existing and future players looking to take up wheelchair tennis and enjoy the sport as much as he clearly does.
"We look forward to watching his progress over the coming years."
Fynn’s mother also encouraged other children to try wheelchair tennis, noting that Fynn is currently the only child in the Sunday wheelchair tennis group at Blackbrook Tennis and Leisure Centre.
For more information about wheelchair or inclusive tennis sessions, email tauntondisabilitytennis@gmail.com.
