"It's an ongoing battle living with the pain," he told The Daily Post.
His wife Penny Mulvaney said there was quite a big cost to study, especially while caring for their two children.
"Anything that can help is brilliant, the scholarship will cover the cost for his books," she said.
Mr Mulvaney said it was a fairly easy application process and well worth doing.
"I only had to fill out an application and a brief letter detailing my disability."
BayTrust awarded a total of $22,500 in Dillon Scholarships to 12 successful Rotorua applicants and $123,400 overall to 64 applicants across the Bay of Plenty.
The scholarships' objective is to provide financial assistance to people who have disabilities and are undertaking tertiary education.
Six of the 12 successful Rotorua applicants met yesterday for a formal presentation and morning tea.
Another recipient, Waiariki Institute of Technology interior design student Kim Wilson, said the scholarship had supported her in more ways than one.
"[BayTrust] have been very supportive to me, it really helps me because I feel a responsibility to achieve.
"Even when I get down it just helps to know I've got that support."
The Dillon Scholarship is offered every year with the successful applicants chosen by a four-person committee.
Dillon Scholarship Committee chairman Peter Blanks said he really enjoyed presenting the awards.
"The BayTrust is very supportive of lifelong learning."
He said it was great seeing people with disabilities moving forward in their lives.
The BayTrust was set up in 1988 for the benefit of local communities.
In the year to March 2012 the trust will make grants totalling $2 million.
The Dillon Scholarship was named after the late Ray Dillon, the former chairman of the trust who died in 1989.