‘It was pretty scary being in a wheelchair’: Paralympian Dylan Alcott had a ‘hard time’ at the supermarket thanks to by COVID-19 panic buyers
Paralympian Dylan Alcott has joined 7-Eleven’s Good Calls initiative to reward Aussie heroes who are lending a helping hand to others during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, the wheelchair tennis star, 29, took a moment to praise how most of the Australian public has faced and reacted to the ongoing crisis.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the Australian athlete said: ‘At the start, it was pretty tough. When I went to the supermarket when it all first started, it was pretty scary for me being in a wheelchair.’
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‘It was pretty scary for me in a wheelchair’: Paralympian Dylan Alcott praises Australian public for helping during supermarket panic buying after some shoppers gave him a ‘hard time’
Dylan was left paraplegic following an operation to remove a tumor around his spinal cord shortly after he was born.
‘Initially, when there was that panic buying, especially for people in my situation, it was tough to shop. There was nothing left and there was big crowds and everyone was rushing,’ Dylan recalled.
‘I must say, for every one person that gave me a hard time in the supermarket, there was a handful of other awesome people that were really helpful. That’s what’s so great about the Australian population, we help each other in tough times,’ he added.
‘Especially for people in my situation, it was tough to shop’: Dylan, who is paraplegic, said panic buying and crowds at supermarkets were tricky in the early days of COVID-19, adding while some shoppers gave him a ‘hard time’ others were really helpful
‘It’s pretty amazing to see the way that the Australian people have rallied together’: Dylan says he is proud of how most of the general public have reacted amid the coronavirus crisis. Pictured with sexologist girlfriend Chantelle Otten in June 2019
Despite not everyone treating him with respect during the early days of the crisis, Dylan said he was humbled by how many people offered to lend him a hand.
‘The way people helped me through that when I was in the supermarket and really struggling to shop when there was a bit of panic buying going on, it was pretty humbling and amazing to see the way that the Australian people rallied together.’
‘I love celebrating people that have done good in the community, and this is what 7-Eleven’s “Good Calls” program is all about – finding people who are helping others during lockdown and celebrating the good things they’ve been doing,’ he said.
Legend! Dylan is ranked No.1 in the world as a quad competitor in wheelchair tennis and won two Gold medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and won a basketball gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games. Pictured: Dylan at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
As part of the campaign, Dylan has already personally gifted $10,000 to local legends doing good.
This week Dylan surprised Sammy Swayn for his extraordinary efforts in launching United Neighbours – a local community group that’s dropped 35,000 letters across Melbourne, sharing contact details of those willing to offer their assistance and support to people in need.
Dylan also gifted Margie Cerata from Karma Kindness with $5,000 to help keep her self-funded organisation afloat. She provides joyful physical experiences to people with special needs and disabilities, and has taken her incredible services online throughout the pandemic.
The public can nominate a local legend or everyday hero deserving of a special thanks from 7-Eleven throughout May and June via their social pages.
Don in your mate! The public can nominate a local legend or everyday hero deserving of a special thanks from 7-Eleven throughout May and June via their social pages