A teenager who had to have his leg amputated when he was 14-months-old has been called up to represent his country at the European Amputee Football Federation (EAFF) junior camp in Georgia this summer.
Rio Woolf, 13, from Bushey was born without a tibia, knee or ankle joint, and had to have his lower right leg removed - but it has not stopped him pursuing his love for football.
The Watford fan, who has aspirations to play in the Paralympics one day, has been representing England since he was seven-years-old which has allowed him to travel all over Europe taking part in training camps and competitions.
His next big trip is to Tbilisi in eastern Europe after being selected to attend a junior football camp from July 14-18.
The camps are the highlight of the calendar because it is an opportunity for young amputee footballers from across the world to reunite, make new friends, and improve their football skills.
Rio, who met his club heroes Troy Deeney and Lloyd Doyley when he switched on the Christmas lights in Watford in 2014, said: "Attending the EAFF junior camps has helped me to develop so much over the last six years, both on and off of the pitch.
"I've become much more confident, not just as a player - graduating from playing on my prosthetic running blade to then using my crutches - but also as a person.
"Going to the Georgia 2022 EAFF Junior Camp this Summer will be a crucial part of my development to reach the goal of playing in the EAFA seniors."
The expenses are paid for at the camp in Tbilisi, but each EAFA junior and their accompanying parent/carer has to pay for their own flights from the UK to Georgia via Istanbul.
As two return tickets cost around £960 plus travel insurance, Rio is fundraising to pay for his flights and to subsidise the cost for his fellow selected friends so that the rest of the team can all travel to Tbilisi.
Rio said: "Please donate whatever you can to help me and all the juniors selected. You will be supporting the next generation of England amputee footballers and we promise to make you proud."
The Just Giving page can be found here
Follow Rio's journey via his Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
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