Ade Adepitan – TV Presenter and Wheelchair Basketball Player
Ade Adepitan is a television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. He was born in Nigeria on 27 March 1973. At the age of 6 months he contracted polio which resulted in the loss of use of his left leg and very limited use of his right leg. At the age of three, Ade and his mum emigrated to London to join his father.
He was taught how to walk using iron calipers, which he wore until the age of 17. Despite having Polio, Ade loved playing football with his school friends. He spent his early years dreaming of playing football for England.
Ade discovered wheelchair basketball when he was twelve, after being spotted by two Physiotherapists. They saw him being pushed in a shopping trolley by his friends. The shopping trolley was one of Ade’s favourite modes of transport at the time, as it was the only way he could keep up with his friends. Owen McGhee and Kay Owen, were both Physiotherapists whose philosophy was to teach young disabled children how to be independent using sport. After taking Ade to Stoke Mandeville, they introduced him to wheelchair basketball. From that moment Ade’s ambition, was to win a medal in the Paralympics for Great Britain.
After turning down an opportunity to study and play basketball, at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Ade decided to play basketball professionally for two years with CAI CDM Zaragoza. His dream to play for Great Britain at the Paralympics finally came true. After fifteen years, Ade was selected to compete in the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.
The unprecedented coverage of the Sydney Paralympics boosted Ade’s profile amongst the public and helped him gain the opportunity to become familiar face on television. Ade has taken part in many shows including documentaries, children’s tv and sports presenting.
Ade is involved in a number of charities, particularly supporting those that help other people with physical disabilities. He is a patron to two charities called Go Kids Go (http://www.go-kids-go.org.uk/index.php) and Scope (http://www.scope.org.uk/). He is also a great supporter of the NSPCC and WheelPower (http://www.wheelpower.org.uk/WPower/).
In 2005 Ade was awarded the MBE for services to disability sport. Find out more about Ade and his current work here http://adeadepitan.com/.
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