Mandy's Story

The difference that fly2help's aims can make to a life are very real!

"After a spinal injury in 1998 I was left disabled with chronic pain, and my life had to change in many ways. I had previously been a very fit and active lass; I was a gymnast, a dancer, and a horse rider. But my real interest had always been flying. After gliding as a teenager, my continuing desire to be airborne led me on to fulltime wing-walking with the 'Cadbury Crunchie Flying Circus' in the early nineties.

But almost overnight, my new physical limitations resulted in the permanent loss of many aspirations for the future. After the accident I was embarrassed by the 'new me', as I perceived it, and for years afterwards I avoided contact with many people. I had always been a 'doer' but I now felt like a mere spectator to the life I missed so much; everyday involved disappointment.

Then in October 2004, a friend introduced me to '‘Flying Scholarships for the Disabled'. The idea of me getting airborne again seemed an impossibility, surely the pain and subsequent exhaustion would never allow it...!? Besides, I really didn't believe that anyone would think enough of me to offer such an opportunity...I didn’t feel worthy anymore! But with the encouragement and support from two special friends I eventually applied for a scholarship.

I was completely overwhelmed, when after months of waiting and finally facing a Final Selection Board at RAF Cranwell, I was told that I had been awarded one of these precious scholarships... I was in a state of shock, total disbelief, which finally turned to pride... and then back to disbelief... and back to pride... and, well, you get the picture! These people really seemed to believe in me... I kept asking myself 'why?' It was a scary thought, I couldn't let them down now, no matter how hard the challenges ahead, there was no backing out now, I had to do this!

This was truly the most encompassing, remarkable, challenging, intensive, tiring, fun, scary, rewarding and inspiring experience I could have ever wished for. I felt totally alive again. Returning to the air not only gave me a spine-tingling buzz and the knowledge that flying again was physically possible, but more vitally it inspired more determination than I thought I could ever possess. The opportunity to prove my capabilities to both myself and others gave my life a new sense of purpose. Unbelievably, I began to move the boundaries I had lived within for the previous 7 years, mentally, physically, emotionally and intellectually. There were no easy options with this; I had to find my own way to fight each challenge I came up against, of which there were many, but the bigger the challenge the greater the sense of achievement. It was incredible to find things out about myself that I never knew, whilst at the same time rediscovering positive aspects that I thought I had lost forever. I learnt so much in so many ways. After many years of being told that I shouldn't or couldn't do things, I started to find a new self-belief and a feeling of 'Ability', not 'Disability'.

This experience was about much more than just learning to fly an aeroplane. Now I CAN fly, in so many ways I never thought would be possible. There were times I hit my limit and felt everything starting to slip away. But by giving me this chance, FSD had showed faith in me. I had to keep pushing, keep fighting and find the confidence to pick myself up again and the self belief to succeed. And, I did, I actually gained a full Private Pilots Licence!

Now I feel liberated. I have proved to myself that I am more capable that I ever thought possible, which in turn is giving me a self-respect that I had always envied in others. The beauty of this experience is that it's an ever-moving goalpost, full of challenges and ups and downs. As a consequence of the scholarship, I am realising - with relief - that I do not have to be defined by my pain.

My whole life has been turned around. I wake each day with a sense of achievement and excitement for future challenges, whatever they may be, rather than the old overwhelming disappointment with life. I can now face new challenges head on and with relish rather than running scared. I would never have considered I could do a job like this one with fly2help, but this second chance has left me feeling like a different person… I AM a different person!

Now it's my time to help others to reap such benefits via the Foundation.

Without doubt, the psychological and emotional benefits of having more confidence and self-esteem are an invaluable and intrinsic part of building a more positive future.

My experiences definitely make fly2help, and the aims of the Foundation, a very personal passion!"