A determined Dumbarton boy who was struck down with meningitis, septicaemia and a stroke when he was just 11 months old is set to challenge for his first kickboxing world title.
John Sutherland, seven, was left visually impaired with paralysis of his right side, hearing problems and language delay disorder after falling critically ill before his first birthday.
However, thanks to coaches at Alexandria Kickboxing Academy, Renton Primary language unit pupil John will now fight for a new para-athlete title at the World Kickboxing Championships in Ireland later this year.
And proud mum Amanda Cameron she was left speechless when AKA owner Stewart Smillie told her the news.
She said: “I was so shocked that I didn’t know what to do or say.
“He explained it was a big deal and that he would be the youngest ever contestant. Which is absolutely amazing.
“John can struggle to understand things a wee bit because of his developmental delay, but all he’s interested in is fighting. He’s always asking me when his next fight will be.
“I keep telling him that it won’t be until November. And that he has to train hard for it. But he can’t wait.
“He doesn’t realise how big a deal it is just yet. But when it gets nearer then I know how excited he’s going to be for the opportunity.”
John, who earned his red belt in kickboxing last November, spent six weeks in hospital just before his first birthday after suffering Meningococcal Septicaemia which then caused a stroke.
The stroke left him with paralysis of his right side and severe visual impairments, whilst he lost his hearing due to the meningitis and didn’t speak until he turned five.
However the combat sports mad youngster, who idolises boxing superstar Tyson Fury, has refused to let his health stand in the way of his dreams, and caught the eye of the head of World Kickboxing during the Scottish Championships earlier this month.
Coach Stewart explained: “We took John over to the Scottish Championships with us and set him up a wee demo match, because he absolutely adores the club, the training and the fighting. And we wanted to get him involved.
“We got him a match against someone who would look after him, but also give him a run-around and let him throw some punches.
“The kickboxing world president saw it. And he invited John over to Ireland to fight in a para-section for a world title.
“He’s now going to be the first seven-year-old who will fight for a legitimate, Paralympics style kickboxing world championship.”
And mum Amanda admits that she is incredibly grateful to Stewart and Alexandria Kickboxing Academy for their support.
She continued: “It’s all down to Stewart that this has happened.
“John isn’t supposed to fight because of his brain injury. But I asked Stewart to see if he could sort something out, and he was able to.
“John was completely over the moon with it. He couldn’t believe it.
“When he won his medal it was quite emotional. Everyone from the club was shouting for him and celebrating.
“He was so excited and so proud to have his whole club cheering him on. I was quite emotional watching it, I felt like crying.”
And whilst the scale of the achievement hasn’t quite sunk in for John, Amanda knows it’s a story he’ll fully appreciate as he gets older.
She added: “I’ve said to him that, in years to come, it’s something to tell his grandkids about. He’s fought for a world title.
“He’s going to have pictures and see that, despite his disabilities, he’s fought for a world title.
“John can get quite upset about his disabilities, and I always say to him that it’s only superheroes who have the problems that he’s got.
“He asks me what his superpower is, and his superpower is kickboxing. That’s why he’s so good at it. And telling him that just makes him a bit happier.
“As his wee brother Duncan-James would say, I’m super proud of you John.”
