Behind the scenes treat for car fanatic Nathan (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Luxury car dealer opens its doors to Murton teenager

8:00am Saturday 25th August 2012 in News By Joanna Morris

THE dreams of a severely disabled teenager came true yesterday when a luxury car maker threw open its doors for him.

Audi invited car fan Nathan Pallister-Hill, 15, to a behindthe- scenes tour of its Teesside branch after the firm was contacted by the Butterwick Hospice, in Stockton.

The husband of a worker at the hospice – where Nathan, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, goes for respite care – had asked the firm for brochures to give to him.

When Audi received the request, the firm invited Nathan, who had never been inside a car showroom, for an exclusive look around the branch. Staff also gave him a bag of goodies, including a personalised licence plate for his wheelchair and a model car customised to feature his name.

Nathan, who lives with his mother, Patricia, in Murton, County Durham, said: “It has been awesome. My favourite car is an Audi A4.

“My favourite part of the day was seeing the roofs of the cars opening and closing. My friends will all be jealous.”

Marie Peverley, a health care assistant at Butterwick Hospice, where Nathan has been receiving care for six years, said: “To Nathan, this was the equivalent of one of us winning the lottery.

“It means so much to him.

We try to pack in as much as we can when he is with us and it’s nice to do something special that he will talk about for months.

“He’s been like a little boy in a sweetshop.”

Audi account manager Harry Mett said: “It’s a shame that, because of the nature of his disability, Nathan couldn’t sit in the cars but he has absolutely loved it and is so knowledgeable about the cars.

“It has a been a highlight of my day to do something like this with someone who just loves cars.”