Chris wins award despite disability (From Winsford Guardian)

Chris wins award despite disability

8:30am Sunday 1st August 2010 in News By Katie Durose

A graduate has defied his disability to scoop a top honours degree and an unprecednted award.

Christopher Parry, 22, was born profoundly hard of hearing and wears two hearing aides.

However, last week he graduated from the University of Liverpool with a first class honours degree in biochemistry.

As well as top honours, Christopher became the only student in the university’s history to receive both the top student award of 2010 and GlaxoSmithKLine prize – recognition of being the top student on course incorporating a one year placement in the industry.

His name will now go on a plaque in the university.

Christopher, who attended Wharton primary and Leftwich high school – where he achieved nine A* and two As – said he ‘pleased’ with his achievement.

“I’m just taking it all my stride,” he added.

When asked what advice he’d give anybody else with the same disability, he said: “Don’t give up.

“There is help out there but you just have to seek it out.”

His mother, Linda Whyte, of Delaisy Way, Winsford, said she was ‘extremely proud’.

“He’s done extremely well,” said the mother of two.

“He is classed as deaf and wears two hearing aides, which do pick up some sound but he has to lipread a lot.

“How he has managed to do what he’s done is amazing.”

Linda, who’s 17-year-old daughter is also hard of hearing and studying at Sir John Deane’s college, said he’d done the town proud.

She said: “His disability hasn’t held him back and I think Winsford would be proud to know that a ‘pure woolly back’ has made history at Liverpool University.”