ABERYSTWYTH Basketball Club’s head coach Lee Coulson has won the Transforming Lives award at the 2016 Disability Sport Wales awards.

Lee beat off stiff competition from fellow nominees John Wilson and Ieuan Coombes and won the award for his contribution to disability wheelchair basketball in Ceredigion.

For more than 20 years the basketball coach from Aberystwyth has made a significant impact on disabled people’s lives through his dedication and hard work.

Lee set up the Wheelchair Basketball section of the Aberystwyth Basketball club, where there are now three mixed senior teams. He has also helped introduce IZB sessions in schools in Ceredigion and is currently in the process of introducing Wheelchair Basketball to Aberystwyth University.

Lee is also coach to the Welsh under 15’s Wheelchair Basketball team and has set up the first ever Wales Under 15’s Wheelchair Basketball Regional Performance Centre which he runs himself alongside a team of volunteers. Lee advocates inclusion in sport and has made his sessions as inclusive as he possibly can to all disabilities and ages.

Sixteen-year-old Conrad Thackray, Wheelchair Basketball player said “Lee has made basketball my life; he has made me stronger, fitter and better. I don’t usually let people in but I let Lee transform my life through basketball. If it wasn’t for him I would not have even had the chance to get involved.”

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