A FORMER occupational therapist who suffered severe injuries in an IRA bombing has made a national appeal to other disabled people: "Liberate yourself and learn to fly".
Sue Hanisch lost part of her right leg in the London Victoria Station outrage in 1991. She watched, helpless, as the man next to her died ; 40 others were hurt, a number seriously.
Despite her injuries, she fought back and with the help of a national charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled, learned the confidence-boosting skill in Canada in a gruelling eight-week course. It became such a life changing experience for her that she now fundraises and publicises the charity.
Sue, who lived in Mellor but moved to the North East two years ago, said: "Flying liberated me. It restored my confidence."
Registered disabled as a result of her injuries, it took her three years to recover enough to go back to work at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.
She said: "After the explosion, I couldn't understand why I couldn't stand. Then I realised I had lost my right foot. It was very difficult, because of my job as an occupational therapist, to be the one who needed help rather than giving it."
Seven years on she heard about the chance to fly and travelled to Canada for lessons, paid by the charity. The achievement has had such an impact on her life that she speaks at prestigious events across the country on the work of the charity and raises funds to encourage more people to try what she has done. She appeared on TV this week to urge other disabled people to learn to fly with the help of the charity.
Her efforts on its behalf recently earned Sue, a former Clitheroe Grammar School pupil, a Woman of the Year for Courage award, after being nominated by her sister Michele Gerard.
Anyone disabled and over 17 can contact the charity at its website reachforthesky@rafbfe.co.uk.
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