On Tuesday 3 December, Dare to Defy will be available on Prime Video. Presented by Paralympic Gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE and broadcaster Adele Roberts, the three-part documentary series about accessible sport features personal stories and inspiring encounters with individuals who dare to defy sporting expectations.
Dare to Defy: Oscar and Seb’s journey in accessible sport
2 December 2024
During the filming, Adele Roberts visited a City in the Community session in Manchester, where she met 14-year-old twins Oscar and Seb Spink who live with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
Showing how their condition hasn’t stopped them enjoying sport, identical twins Oscar and Seb play for Manchester City in the Wheelchair Football Association’s Championship League.
Their mum, Kerry Spink said: “Oscar and Seb are like many other teenagers their age – football mad and they love gaming.
“From a young age, the boys experienced hip pain and poor weight gain, as well as having a lack of facial movements, so we knew something wasn’t right. It took 18 months to reach a diagnosis but eventually they were diagnosed at the age of eight with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).”
“It was a huge shock to all of us and that’s when we found Muscular Dystrophy UK, who helped us understand the condition and enabled us to meet other families going through the same thing.”
Oscar and Seb have been using electric powerchairs to get around since they were 10 and developed a passion for powerchair football.
“This is their second season playing for Man City,” said Kerry. “Of course, it’s great that they’re enjoying themselves, but for me the most important thing has been seeing how sport has enabled them to build relationships and be part of a team. Ensuring sport is accessible and inclusive for everyone is so important and I hope this documentary makes people realise that.”
Explaining what sport means to them and what it was like to meet Adele, Seb said: “I’ve always loved football but couldn’t play it with friends at school because I couldn’t keep up. Playing wheelchair football for Man City is brilliant fun and I love it because it’s really fast paced.”
Oscar continued: “We tried to teach Adele how to play wheelchair football, but I think she needs a lot more practice. It’s not as easy as it looks!”
Highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusivity, Neeru Naik, Deputy Director of Care, Campaigns and Support at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “Many people in our community tell us how important sport is in their lives. It can help to keep people active, create new friendships, and improve mental health.
“It’s clear to see how Oscar and Seb benefit from playing wheelchair football – being able to enjoy the sport they love in an accessible, inclusive way.”
“This is something we’d like to see more of for everyone living with a muscle wasting condition, and any form of health condition or disability.”
“Earlier this year, we partnered with Scottish Disability Sport to host a free sporting event for children and young people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions, so that they could try different sporting activities like curling, boccia and wheelchair football. We hope to organise more events like this in the future as accessible sport is so important.”
Stronger Together
We believe in the power of community and sport is a great way to break down barriers and bring people together. Which is why it’s so important to make sport accessible and inclusive. For everyone.
The Dare to Defy documentary was produced in partnership with the Nissan Possibilities Project to celebrate diversity and the importance of sport being accessible and inclusive.
It’s available on Prime Video from Tuesday 3 December.
Watch the trailer
Oscar and Seb: Fighting FSHD
Oscar and Sebastian Spink are identical twins from Lymm in Cheshire where they live with older sister Scarlett, mum and dad Kerry and Grant and their three dogs Pip, Bert and Ernie.
Support people living with muscle wasting conditions
We believe in the power of community. That the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Because the more of us who come together, the greater the impact we’ll be able to make.
Looking for an accessible sport event?
Join our free Northern Irish sporting event for children and families living with muscle wasting conditions.
STORIES LIKE THIS
New drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to be made available in Scotland
January 13, 2025
Muscle Groups dates announced
January 8, 2025
Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment givinostat conditionally approved in the UK
December 20, 2024