Prince Harry was in New Zealand last week, and took the time to visit the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit.
Credit/Copyright: www.princehenryofwales.org/
During his visit, he met All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Jerome Kaino. The Prince, who is Patron of the Injured Players Foundation in England, had made time to visit the New Zealand Rugby Foundation at the centre as it supports catastrophically injured rugby players and their families.
On day seven of his tour to New Zealand he received a formal welcome and was greeted by All Black legend Sir Colin Meads, who said it was a great honour to have him visit.
He met a group of patients who paint with their mouths, with The Prince exclaiming “don’t tell me you have done that with your mouth” when he walked into the room.
Grant Sharman, 53, who broke his back playing school rugby in 1977, gave Prince Harry a picture he had painted of The Prince standing next to an Apache helicopter, saying “I don’t know if you have an art collection but if not you can start one now.”
Continuing to walk round the room Prince Harry said: “That’s really amazing, how the hell did you paint that? How long did this take you? You guys have some serious skill, how long does this take you? You are some sort of genius, this is incredible.”
At the end of the visit, the pair of New Zealand rugby players presented him with an All Black shirt and Mealamu said: “I think it’s amazing and the people here wouldn’t expect the visit, just to see how humble and really down to earth he is.”
Earlier in the day he had visited the Turn Your Life Around Development Trust, TYLA, in South Auckland, which aims to inspire ‘at risk’ youth to lead a better life.
During the visit, he joined the students playing pool and table football, and took part in ice-breaker activities to help discuss TYLA’s core values of facing up to challenges, making choices and facing the consequences.
Later, he attended a reception, hosted by the Governor General at Government House, for emergency services and disaster relief personnel. He paid tribute to the country’s emergency services, as well as saying his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Nepal.
Source: www.princehenryofwales.org
