Niles teen gets Christmas surprise from BMX idol

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -

A Niles teenager, defying expectations, got the surprise of a lifetime on Christmas: a gift from his idol Brett Banasiewicz.

Trey Hamilton, was gifted a set of special bike grips that say “Stay Strong.”

Hamilton, who has Cerebral Palsy, was never expected be able to walk.

He has always loved BMX riding and has followed Banasiewicz’s career for years.

In 2012, Banasiewicz suffered a brain injury when he crashed during practice.

It was a long road to recovery, and while he was originally told he might never be able to walk, he can now ride his BMX bike again.

“I feel like we went through similar struggles to get to where we are today,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton has recently become a regular at Banasiewicz’s non-profit The Kitchen, a South Bend skate park.

“Trey is a real nice kid, he has a big heart, he always has a smile on his face no matter what and he’s very respectful,” said Banasiewicz.

Hamilton says Banasiewicz is his biggest inspiration.

“It just reminds me to stay patient and kind and good things will happen. Don’t hate the world because you’re a little different, be grateful that you can be similar in some way,” said Hamilton.

The Kitchen is a non-profit and all of the employees are volunteers. For more information about donating and getting involved, click here.