A Warminster woman who has multiple sclerosis has celebrated her 75th birthday with a wing walk to raise funds for the charity which provides her with weekly treatment and therapy.
Paula Carr raised more than £600 for the Wessex MS Therapy Centre, where she has been a member for more than 20 years, receiving weekly oxygen therapy and physiotherapy.
She decided to take on the challenge as a way of showing her appreciation for the charity, having previously raised money for the centre by jumping out of a plane for her 70th birthday five years ago.
“It was out of this world,” said Paula. “I was flying high for about 10 minutes, and it was very, very exciting and great fun.
“All the staff were so helpful, and they guided me up onto the plane step by step. I can’t feel my left leg because of my MS, and I had to climb into the cockpit of the plane to get on top and the staff had to hoist me up. When I was up in the air, I had no control of my left leg in the wind and ended up doing the splits mid-air – it did make me laugh.”
Paula said the MS Therapy Centre had supported her “in every way possible” over the past 20 years.
“I sincerely believe I am still upright and walking because of the physio and oxygen therapy I get on a weekly basis,” she said. “I know how hard working the staff and therapists are and I wanted to show my appreciation by completing the wing walk.”
The Wessex MS Therapy Centre is a self-funding charity which relies on fundraising and donations to continue delivering its specialist services across the region.
CEO Rosie Eliot thanked Paula for her fundraising efforts.
She said, “Paula is a true inspiration and an all-round legend of a human being. She has had multiple sclerosis for over twenty years, and she refuses to let that stop her enjoying life even though she can barely walk five metres unaided.
“We are very grateful to Paula and all of her fundraising efforts; we can’t thank her enough for everything she does for our charity.”
Paula is already planning her next challenge, with hopes of completing a loop the loop on the wing walk for her 80th birthday.
To support Paula’s fundraiser, visit https://localgiving.org/fundraising/Wingwalk-Dream-at-75
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