Dylan Alcott in world record attempt for charity

“I’ve decided to go for a 24-hour world record of wheelchair tennis. It’s a pretty ridiculous idea to be honest.”

Australian wheelchair tennis player Dylan Alcott is aiming to break a world record in a bid to raise money for two charities that helped him as a child.

On 11 December, the Beijing 2008 wheelchair basketball Paralympic gold medallist aims to play tennis for 24-hours straight, and hopes his venture will raise AUD 100,000 for charity.

“I’ve decided to go for a 24-hour world record of wheelchair tennis. It’s a pretty ridiculous idea to be honest,” said Alcott.

The 23-year-old will commence his record-breaking attempt at Melbourne Park and will line-up against a number of Australian celebrities, including tennis player Nick Kyrigos, women’s basketball star Elizabeth Cambage, Neighbours actress Olympia Valance, Aussie rules players Jack Watts and Tom Hawkins, as well as a number of family members.

The two charities that Alcott is looking to raise money for are very close to his heart, after they supported him as a child when he endured countless operations and visits to hospital to treat a rare type of tumour wrapped around his spinal cord.

“When I was 10 years old, I spent the first six months of the year bed ridden after complications occurred during surgery,” said Alcott.

“Depressed and upset, the Starlight Foundation came to my rescue and granted my family and I the wish to swim with the dolphins at Sea World on the Gold Coast. It was a truly once in a lifetime experience.

“Variety, the Children’s Charity, a charity for kids with disabilities, saw me using a borrowed tennis wheelchair that didn’t fit me, so they raised the money to get me a new one. Without them I don’t think I would be the Paralympic gold medallist and that I am today.”

With the money raised, Alcott hopes to help many Australian kids who suffer from illness, or living with an impairment, to achieve their goals and help improve their quality of life.

“Having a disability can be very hard, especially for kids growing up as I experienced first-hand,” he said. “The donations will assist in granting wishes for sick children and purchasing equipment such as wheelchairs to enable them to live better lives.”

“Twenty-four hours, I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’ve always wanted to give back to these charities that helped my family and I so much when I was a kid,” Alcott said.

For more information or to donate, visit Alcott’s 24-hours of Tennis fundraising page.