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Snow doubt that Asif is skiing to success
Determined teen has come through tough times
A paralysed asylum seeker who has blossomed under the care of Luton's education services is getting closer to his dream of becoming a sporting champion.
Asif Rahmani, 18, arrived in Britain in 2008 from Afghanistan but his dreams of a new life away from the war that had torn his homeland apart were shattered when he fell from the back of a lorry, which then ran him over, crushing his legs.
But Asif, who earlier this year won a Pride in Luton and South Beds award, refused to let his disability get in the way of making the best of his new home.
He took up adapted skiing at the Xscape centre in Milton Keynes with Peter Grabowski, the husband of Rona, his education co-ordinator.
It soon became clear that the Barnfield College student was a natural on the mono sit-ski, and Bob Black from Adaptive Snowsports Milton Keynes organised an assessment for him with the British Disabled Ski Team director, David Chugg, earlier this month in Manchester.
After only 35 minutes at the Manchester trial, Asif was taken off the slope, and feared the worst.
But he was called into David's office, told that he had great potential and given a form to apply for funding to buy his own mono sit-ski, which will cost about 3,000.
Peter said: "He truly impressed the selectors and was invited to join the British Development Squad, for training with Olympic, European and World Cup skiing competitions as the longer-term goal.
"He's a really great lad and I couldn't be more pleased for him."
The next stage of the journey for Asif is to join the squad's week-long youth training camp in Hintertux, Austria, in October.
"We are looking for sponsorship as it'll probably cost about 1,000 for the travel costs and the kit that Asif needs," said Peter, who has been a keen skier for 60 years.
"He normally borrows clothing from me but he'll need his own now, and he's been told he needs to join a gym to get his upper body strength up.
"I'm trying to arrange a meeting with Barnfield College, as they had said previously that they would consider sponsoring him."
Michelle Rogers, Asif's student services co-ordinator at Barnfield College, said she was over the moon for him.
"I'm really proud of him," she said. "It's such a huge achievement and he really deserves it."
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Weather for Bedford
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
