Biography
In 2008, at age 16, Smith was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. A few weeks after this diagnosis, while playing rugby for Billingham RUFC, he was injured in a ruck incident. He sustained a fracture-dislocation of several vertebrae and spinal cord compression, which resulted in paralysis from the chest down. [3] He had spinal surgery at North Tees Hospital and spent three months' rehab at James Cook University Hospital spinal unit. [4]
Just over a year later, Smith was back playing rugby, now in a wheelchair. He took up the sport in 2009 at the North East Bulls club, the region's only wheelchair team.
He moved on to Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby club, and eventually to a place on the Great Britain team. Following his selection for the team, he said: "This has been my dream for six or seven years and right now I'm so excited. My parents, brother, sister and my girlfriend have been so supportive and, although it's not possible for them to watch, they are over the moon for me." [4]
Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to wheelchair rugby. [5] [6]
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