I sustained my injury in 2005 from a diving accident and went to Plymouth Hospital. I went into the recompression chamber 27 times, which was a bit of a record.  I was in hospital for four months. You basically wake up and you can’t move.

Before the accident, life was exciting. My children were 9 and 10 years old. I was teaching but I’d just done a course to up my skills to be a graphic designer again and life was looking pretty rosy. I used to ski and snow board, and travel a lot.

They told me I’d never walk again and that was pretty depressing. It was a bit of a shock and I wondered how I was going to manage as a single parent of two children with a new mortgage and no work. 

You have to learn to reinvent yourself, that was the best advice I got. Life isn’t going to be the same.

I originally found out about Aspire when I went on a Back Up course in the Lake District. I’d had a grant for a wheelchair a long time ago and this time my application was passed on from Regain. The Aspire Grants application process was very helpful, and Anita, Aspire's Grants Officer, was really supportive, reminding me what I needed to do and helping fill in the forms. There are always things to do when you’re disabled and it helps to have the support. I’ve had help from Citizens Advice Bureau before and they’ve helped me apply for grants but I’d probably still be going back and forth. This was much simpler.

When I found out my application for a Rehasense PAWS cruiser wheelchair power add on was successful, I felt really happy and excited to be able to get to places. It's got good traction and is easy to attach and detach which really saves my shoulders.

It has an incorporated stand so you can leave it outside the shop. I can go shopping independently and take the dog for walk - she’s loving all the exercise! I can keep up with my foster child when we go out and it’s easier to meet my friends and join in community activities, so it’s improved things massively.

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