Edward Holt
I'm Edward Holt and I'm a wheelchair tennis player currently training for 2016 Paralympics in Brazil. I have played tennis since I was 8 years old. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma at 11.03am on September 10th 2009. Osteosarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer in teenagers.
“I spent a year in hospital having chemotherapy and on New Year’s Eve 2009, I had my below knee amputation. Two weeks later I was back in hospital for more chemotherapy until 28th May.
"In May 2010 I went to the Bath Paralympics Talent Day and was picked out for wheelchair tennis. After I finished my chemotherapy I spent all summer recovering. At the end of my chemotherapy I spent time recovering.
"Unfortunately I suffered severe discomfort with my stump and as a result had to have two further operations during the yearand I was forced to give up my course at Sheffield Hallam due to another operation. During the early part of 2010 I decided to enter wheelchair tennis tournaments and my potential was picked up by the Head Great Britain Coach. I went to America on my own to play a tournament in which I beat the USA No. 6 and realised I had a passion and a talent for wheelchair tennis and decided to commit myself to take it as far as I could.
"I then started at Leeds Metropolitan University studying Sports Performance as a TASS athlete which enabled me to train five days a week with a good support structure around me and I also trained once a week in Sheffield with other Great Britain Wheelchair tennis players.
"I won my first major tournament title at Nottingham, second draw Men’s Singles beating the 150th ranked player in the world from the Netherlands. My long term goal is to reach the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil. My aim at this time was to play as many tournaments as I could, to get into the top 100 world rankings and top five in Great Britain.
"I currently attend Leeds Metropolitan University as a full-time athlete and have already reached the semi-finals in the Men’s Doubles in Italy and in the singles in Spain. I also won the Men's Doubles in Turkey and Spain (2012-13) and played two British tournaments, beating the world number 63. I have reached my highest world rankings of 90 (singles) and 89 (doubles).
"My aim is to travel the world with the sport I love playing; after everything I've been through, I am taking every opportunity presented to me and making the most of it. I have found myself in a parallel world that I didn't know existed. Nonetheless I'm willing to make the most of it. Losing my leg and playing wheelchair tennis has enabled me to meet a variety of people and inspired me to try and reach the 2016 Paralympics.”
Edward has also had a prosthetic blade fitted which will enable him to run again. He is hoping that after his most recent operation his leg will be comfortable enough to start running and doing the activities he used to do.
Edward added: “I was a keen sportsman before my illness. I used to play football and tennis and I want to continue being the athlete I used to be. Having the blade will enable me to try other Paralympic sports and most of all start running again.”
More importantly, Edward recently had the all-clear on his four year cancer scan!