A REFUGEE who fled from persecution in the Sudan and went on to study at the Greatwood charity near Marlborough has won the Young Achiever title in the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Sport awards.

Abdulkareem Musa Adam, who spent a year at the ex-racehorse charity, now dreams of being a jockey, after an incredible turnaround in a life story that has involved overcoming more adversity in his 19 years than most would in many lifetimes.

Mr Adam was born in Darfur and was only seven when his parents and two sisters were killed when their village was bombed in 2004, forcing him to flee to Chad and then Libya.

Soon after he arrived in Libya, the country was thrown into civil war and he was arrested and beaten after refusing to be a child soldier.

At the age of 15 he managed to escape with the aid of a foreign doctor and arrived in France on a humanitarian ship.

After being homeless for the next 18 months, Mr Adam, who was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, entered Britain as a stowaway on a lorry heading for Swindon and was then granted asylum.

In the summer of 2015, he began what he calls the happiest year of his life at Greatwood, learning about horses and enrolling in their accredited programmes to kickstart his dream of becoming a jockey.

“Greatwood are amazing. They help any child, anyone to achieve their dreams. I feel special and cannot thank them enough for nominating me. They were always there, caring for me and encouraging me,” said Mr Adam, who is still riding every day and is progressing rapidly.

“I would love to be a jockey. My height and weight are okay. I cannot see any barriers to achieving my dreams. I am determined to achieve my dreams."

At the awards ceremony last Wednesday, his favourite jockey Frankie Dettori congratulated Mr Adam personally for his award, to cap off a memorable evening.

“We are incredibly proud of his achievements and how much he has progressed,” said charity fundraiser Sasha Thorbek-Hooper.

“We wish him all the success in the future in trying to achieve his dream of being a jockey. It was a pleasure to help him towards that goal.

“It is an extraordinary story and we are very fortunate to have had him.”