A WOMAN who doctors predicted would never be able to walk or talk is to take part in a sponsored tandem paraglide.

Bury's Woman of the Year, Mrs Judith Taylor, (53) of Kenmore Avenue, Elton, Bury, is a spastic diaplegic and is disabled and walks with the aid of sticks but has constantly defied the odds throughout her life.

And now she is taking on a sponsored tandem paraglide in Denshaw, Oldham. She hopes to raise more than £15,000 for three Bury charities which she says have helped her in the past.

She said: "The money will be split evenly between Bury Hospice, Bury Shopmobility and Connections. All three charities helped get me get the title of Woman of the Year so I would like to repay their kindness."

And she has appealed for sponsorship from the people of Bury so that she can raise the amount. Judith, pictured with her sponsor material, said it has always been her aim to do a parachute jump. But when it transpired that a paraglide would be cheaper, safer and just as much fun, she jumped at the chance.

Despite being labelled "mad" by both her husband Peter, and 15-year-old son Christopher, she is relishing the chance to fly from Buxton Edge.

She said: "Everyone thinks I am crazy and whenever I go into Shopmobility I get called Biggles. Maybe I am crazy, but I don't care and I can't wait."

She sees the flight as an ideal way to end her term as Bury's Woman of the Year.

Because of the nature of the flight, conditions have to be absolutely perfect meaning that no date for the jump can be set.

But she is confident that it will be undertaken before August. Easing her through the flight will be Marc Levine from the Letsgosport Paragliding School.

When approached about this flight he said that the urge to try something new was too great for him to turn it down.

Although this is the first time he has flown with a disabled person, he believes it will be no more dangerous than normal.

Then it will be time for the big day, when extra people will be drafted in to make sure she lands safely.

Marc said that with the right conditions he will be able to fly her from the hill and land on a designated spot on the ground.

He added: "I have spoken to Judith a number of times she seems like an amazing lady. I have every confidence that there will be no problems and that she will come down like a feather."

Chairman of Bury Hospice, Colin Caffrey, believes that the jump proves just how much Mrs Taylor deserved the award of Bury's Woman of the Year.

He said: "She is a very brave lady with amazing determination and guts. My only hope is that the people of Bury recognise this and sponsor her accordingly."

Anyone wishing to sponsor Judith can contact her on 797 9537 or Andy O'Hara of Shopmobility on 764 9966.