PARALYMPIC athlete Jack Rutter spent a day with West Somerset schoolchildren this week to help inspire them to become the best they can. Jack, who has captained the England cerebral palsy football team, was about to become a professional footballer with Birmingham City FC at the age of 18 when he was assaulted and suffered brain damage.

During Monday’s visit to Old Cleeve First School, in Washford, he joined in a sponsored circuit session with the pupils.

He also answered questions which the children put to him about his life and career and spoke to them about his career as a Paralympian and how he still managed to achieve his dream of playing football professionally after his injury.

Jack, who lives in Gloucestershire, captained the GB cerebral palsy team at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

He explained to the youngsters how his motto in life was ‘It matters not how many times you fall down, what matters most is how many times you rise’.