Ice hockey boy's stolen para-sledge to be replaced

Matthew said playing para ice hockey was "his life"

A 13-year-old boy who was devastated when the para-sledge he uses to play ice hockey was stolen will be able to replace the crucial piece of equipment thanks to the efforts of well-wishers.

Mum Victoria had taken Matthew and her other son to watch the Sheffield Steelers play when her car was taken while they were at the match.

It contained the sledge used by Matthew, a member of the Sheffield Steelkings disability team, which has not been recovered.

His mother set up a fundraising page and supporters have now donated more than £1,000 to replace the sledge and allow Matthew to train again.

The surplus funds will also be given to the Steelkings squad to pay for new equipment.

The sledge is manufactured in Canada for the team, who have competed in the British Para Ice Hockey Association League and trained in the city since 2014.

Matthew, from north Lincolnshire, decided to join the team after watching professional outfit the Steelers. He lives with cerebral palsy.

He said the sport was now "his life".

"It's pretty good," he said.

"With the Steelkings we just forget about all the hard things everyone has to go through, and just enjoy ourselves for an hour."

Speaking about the moment she realised the car had been stolen, Victoria said:

"It hit us hard. There were lots of emotions."

Her son added: "I just want to thank everyone who donated.

"It's a shock, it's a target we never thought we'd be able to reach so soon."

Even the Canadian women's para ice hockey team and Nottingham Panthers fans had donated to the cause, Victoria said

Victoria said there were initially "some tears" but now she and her son want to "turn this tragedy into a massive positive".

"It's made me feel I've got something to live for now," said Matthew.

"When I lost my sledge I was like, I don't know what to do, I can't train, and it's my life."

Victoria, a nurse, said being part of the team had helped her son "so much, not just physically but mentally".

"It's just incredible," she said.

"The outpouring of love for Matthew has been amazing. I just want to thank people from the bottom of our hearts.

"Para-ice hockey has changed Matthew's life, and mine."

She added: "Thanks to everybody, he's going to get his dream back."

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