Sharon Formstone

My partner Terry has his paragliding accident in June 1999, his shoot failed and he fell approx 70ft to the ground. Nothing, absolutely nothing in this world can prepare you for the huge changes it makes to your life. Almost everything you took for granted becomes an obstacle or an issue, nothing seems easy anymore. Before the accident Terry raced motorbikes, mountain bikes, he did mountain climbing, running, jet skiing, you name it he did it. Now Terry is paralysed from the chest downwards but that has never stopped him from doing anything he wants. From the date of the accident to actually going home the hospital told me it would be at least 6 months due to the severity of his injuries, but Terry was out in 18 weeks. We were all so impressed with his fight and determination. Within months of him getting home he had bought a recumbent handcycle and was racing with the Hand Cycling Association of the UK, and also entered races in Europe. We still went jet skiing when we could. The next purchase was the quad bike which is road legal, we have so much fun on this, especially off-roading in the winter.

He has never missed the TT races in the IOM for over 15 years, we still go, we still camp and its always on the quad bike or on the Hayabusa. The jet ski had to go so that he could buy the Suzuki Hayabusa and have it made into a sidecar outfit. We go everywhere in it, the best of all being Mad Sunday at the TT races, racing over the mountain mile...not many people can catch us !! Its never plain sailing and life does get very hard at times, but we are together overcoming everything that is thrown at us, there is nothing that we haven't tried since his accident. Terry has even built a custom quad bike based on a Honda Super Blackbird CBR1100 motorbike for the Deafblind daredevil man, Graham Hicks to ride. Graham used this quad to smash the Guinness Quad World Speed record of 104 mph by achieving an incredible 133 mph on the quadbike on 14th August, 2004.

Because of his sheer determination (and not taking no for an answer !!) he now has a parawalker. The Orthotics Department in Gobowen, Oswestry are so pleased with his progress. The best feeling I ever had since his accident was when earlier this year he walked towards me and we hugged.....stood up !! I love him very much and I am so impressed with his courage, his determination and willpower, he never gives up. He shows us all that you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it, no matter who you are or whatever the disability. So whoever you are, whatever problems life throws at you, don't give up, get out there and live life to the full, its well worth it !!