A DISABLED teenager who is striving to overcome adversity has been dealt a blow by money-hungry doctors.

Wesley Newman has struggled with three medical conditions since being diagnosed five years ago.

The 16-year-old from Stratton has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - a condition affecting the sensory and motor nerves. He also has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and severe hypermobility of the joints.

“The first one affects the muscles, nerves and my legs and arms,” said Wesley. “The others give me pain everywhere and I suffer with seizures. If I stand my knees and hips will dislocate.”

For years Wesley allowed his disability to affect his life in the most negative way. He was once housebound and struggled to find the confidence to achieve his goals.

His weight soared and at his heaviest he was 18 stone.

“For a long time I’ve not been active,” he said. “I gained a lot of weight when I was stuck in the house and now I’m really trying to turn my life around. I don’t want to be that way anymore.

“I’ve never found the physio stuff worked for me and I want to get fitter so I thought the best thing would be to join a gym.

“I’m also part of a basketball squad and they train at the same gym. I want to be able to go with them.”

Wesley admits that for a long time he sat around and felt sorry for himself, but he says now he is determined to live his life to the fullest.

“A year ago I decided I wanted to do everything I possibly could,” he said.

Last Monday he went to join the gym at the Link Centre in West Swindon. The team there welcomed him enthusiastically but said they would need a doctor’s note to confirm he was fit enough to exercise.

And Wesley went to his doctor to set the wheels in motion.

But the response from Homeground Surgery, part of the North Swindon Practice, was to stop him in his tracks.

“I called them and explained what I needed. They told me it would cost me £40,” he said.

“It made me really angry - I’m trying to do something to better my life and overcome the challenges I’ve faced and they just want to charge me money for a simple note.

“I’m 16, I don’t have much money, paying for the gym will be expensive enough and I don’t have an extra £40 spare.

“I didn’t even get a chance to speak to a doctor, we tried to speak to the manager but they wouldn’t let us.

“I called, my dad called, he went in. This isn’t difficult it’s just a quick letter to help me to be active. It’s what doctors are supposed to do.”

Wesley says it feels like there is a disconnect between encouraging disabled youngsters to have the confidence to go beyond their comfort zone and then putting obstacles in the way when they do.

He said: “I want to improve my fitness and health, all I’m asking for is some help to do that.”