Women with spina bifida climbs Ben Nevis (From Bournemouth Echo)

Women with spina bifida climbs Ben Nevis

5:30pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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CAROLINE Cooper is set to become one of more than 100,000 people who climb Ben Nevis each year.

But not many of them have spina bifida.

The 26-year-old of Magna Road, Bearwood, who works full time as a carer, vowed to complete the challenge 12 months ago despite her disability.

Caroline will do the climb in aid of Poole Sailability, a club which offers disabled people the chance to sail for fun or competitively.

She is set to be accompanied by family members for the climb, which is planned for July this year, and gets married less than a month later to fiancé Andy, 33.

She has been preparing for the tough challenge by training three times a week in the gym, walking and cycling.

Caroline was born with a type of spina bifida that left her with one leg shorter than the other and wears a false leg. She has endured years of operations and also has dyslexia.

She said: “Last July my partner’s dad died and we were supposed to be going up to Scotland but because of that we couldn’t make it.

“When we were originally going to Scotland I said I wanted to walk up Ben Nevis. A lot of people said I wouldn’t be able to do it.

“I decided if I was going to do it I would do it properly and raise money for charity.

“I know it’s not going to be easy but as soon as someone says I can’t do something I make sure I do it.

“Although I have a lot of physical problems I have never seen myself as different from anyone else. I am a strong believer that you can do anything in life – you just have to believe in yourself.”

People who want to sponsor Caroline should ring her on 07709 842783 or visit her webpage, see link under related links.