DIDGERIDOO player Kevin Howard overcame severe health and disability to start his own business.
Mr Howard turned his hobby into a business and is running "didji" workshops in schools and colleges in the region.
The 39-year-old, from Saltburn, Teesside, was born with severe limb deformities and developed a rare form or arthritis, AMC.
Originally, he trained as a photographer but unable to find work, and turned to the didgeridoo to help keep his spirits up when rejected by employers.
His achievements will be recognised tomorrow when he receives an award in Newcastle for becoming the 1,000th person helped in to work by Broker North-East, a specialist branch of Jobcentre Plus that helps people out of work due to ill-health return to employment.
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