My Life: Benjamin Lloyd Hunter, 13, Llantwit Major

I loved all sport and the most important thing in my life was rugby. On the pitch I could forget my worries and my poor literacy skills didn’t matter. It was a real life-saver.

Rugby saved my life once as I was attacked by a gang of boys at school. My coach’s advice of curling up in a ball and covering my head with my arms protected me as they kicked my head.

When I was eight, my life changed for the better as I started to attend lessons with Dyslexia Action. I made great progress during three years of weekly lessons. I could read and write as well as play sport, which made me happy. My specialist teacher nominated me for an award in 2009. I was amazed to win and become the first Dyslexia Action Young Person of the Year.

This led to amazing experiences. One of the most inspirational was meeting Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in the 1970s US sitcom Happy Days. He had dyslexia but was undiagnosed until he was 31. I was also invited to work with former children’s minister Sarah Teather on a green paper to improve educational provision for people with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (SpLD).

In April, I was invited to speak at a reception at the House of Lords by the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust. It is helping MPs and Lords try to pass a bill to improve educational provision for people with specific learning difficulties. This was incredible.