Julie Hill

I was a young mother of two small boys when I was involved in a car crash in 1990 that left me permanently paralysed from the waist down. The devastating impact that my injury had, not only on me but, my family and friends was huge! I had lost my identity as a wife, a mother, daughter, sister! Luckily, I had the chance to attend a residential activity course run by the spinal injury charity, Back Up. I went down to Exmoor where I tried abseiling, canoeing and all sorts of amazing things. After that, everyday challenges that had seemed impossible, suddenly seemed much more achievable. I could do the school run again. I could go out and see friends. I could be me. Since that time I have been a volunteer with Back Up in various roles, as a group leader on residential courses, as a wheelchair skills trainer and mentor. I wrote a book that was published in 2000 and this was made into a TV film in 2005. This year 2017 I was humbled to receive a British citizens award for my volunteering work spanning 25 years.