DOCUMENT

18 | THE REVIEW SEPT 2024 Overcoming obstacles to make the most of life Gary Endacott focuses on what he’s got, rather than feeling unlucky to have Cerebral Palsy. By MELANIE LOUDEN When Gary Endacott turned five and was ready to start school, his mother sat him down and gave him some advice. Advice that put the youngster in good stead for his schooling years, but also his entire life. “She said ‘this is what’s going to happen to you on your school journey – you’re going to be last picked for sports team, people are going to push you over, they’re going to call you names. Some people will even physically have a go at you.’ “And she said ‘just never give in and keep trying. It will get better’.” Gary, who lives with Cerebral Palsy and learnt to walk when he was 4 years old, never gave in – far from it. The 56-year-old has gone on to play Physical Disability Rugby League for New Zealand, won world titles in disabled tennis, completed four New York Marathons and was the first person with a significant disability to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. He married Shelley, had two sons Jesse and Josh, is a public speaker, and for the past 21 years has held a job he loves with the Ministry of Education. Gary, a member of the Cerebral Palsy Society, is also a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with disabilities. He has the Diplegia (both sides of the body) type of Cerebral Palsy, which affects his gait and his walking. His top half is also affected but not to the same extent.