My name is Sally, I am a big fan of the SD Motion Assist wheelchair system which I came across 15 years ago and have been using ever since.
It easily navigates rough ground and grass, can be used on running tracks (but not for competition events!) and the wheels can be taken off and on to transfer if necessary. Together with the prompt and helpful advice from staff at Steering Developments Ltd this system has helped me 100% with life from a wheelchair.
In 1959 I was injured during a point-to-point (horse race) fall when I was 18. The horse stumbled to its knees on landing at the final fence but did not regain balance before rolling over, with me still on top. The back of the saddle went through and severed my spinal cord. Consequently T9 complete paralysis.
My rehabilitation was at Stoke Mandeville spinal unit where I was encouraged to take part in sport, which included wheelchair Archery, Table Tennis and Field Events.
I enjoyed doing the competitive events as a form of physiotherapy, it was some compensation for the equestrian events I could no more partake.
1960 Rome was the first time wheelchair games were included within the able-bodied Olympic Games structure. I went with the GB team as the ladies first reserve.
Following on from Rome I competed at three Paralympic Games, Tokyo 1964, Tel Aviv (Israel) 1968, Germany 1972 as well as two Commonwealth Games — Edinburgh 1972 and Dunedin, New Zealand 1974 — overall gaining four Gold Medals.
