Because of his spina bifida, Ryan has never been able to walk. He uses a wheelchair or walking sticks to get around. This has NEVER slowed him down, though. Ryan is an amazing athlete. Growing up he's played baseball, flag football, tackle football, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis...I'm sure there are more sports that I'm forgetting. He has been traveling the world the last couple of years with the Junior World Cup Team playing tennis, and is also on the Utah Wheelin Jazz Basketball team.
Thursday night he played in the 3rd Annual Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball game held in honor of Curt Brinkman, a trail blazing wheelchair athlete who passed away last year. Some of my Nelson family just happened to be in town for General Conference this weekend, so we had quite the Ryan Fan Club there to cheer him on. It was a blast! The celebs included:
Bear - Utah Jazz Mascot
Shawn Bradley - former BYU and NBA Dallas Mavericks player
Kyle Whittingham - Head Football Coach, University of Utah
Casey Scott - Reporter for KUTV2 TV
Reno Mahe - former BYU and NFL Philadelphia Eagles player
Andy Toolson - former Utah jazz NBA player
Brandon Doman - Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator, BYU Football
Christina Lowe - Miss Utah 2010-11
Jan Whittaker - Director of the NuSkin Jazz Dancers
Rod Zundel - Sports Reporter for KSL5 TV
Toby Christensen - former BYU football player & reporter for The Mtn TV
Todd Christensen - former BYU and NFL Oakland Raiders player & analyst for The Mtn TV
Here are some pictures from the night.
Our favorite #12 - Go RYAN!
Isn't he a stud?!?!
Everyone wanted to get their picture taken with Shawn Bradley and Reno Mahe
We are so proud of Ryan for the amazing young man he is and for all that he has accomplished! We love you, Ryan!
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