Cathy Holc-Thompson

Cathy became disabled in 1993 as a result of three accidents at work, admitted to hospital where she suffered a pulmonary embolism and technically died but was resuscitated. Leaving hospital in a wheelchair she was determined to walk and taught herrself to do so. She became a recipient of a spinal column stimulator and was so succesful her consultant used her as an expert patient. In 2001 whilst living in the US she underwent a five and a half hour spinal reconstructive surgery and again had to teach herself to walk, but following a fall on return to the Uk became dependant on the wheelchair. Determined to suceed she established her own charity, Inspirability and won the BBC South's Community Champions award in 2007. the same year Inspirability won an award from the EU Community Grant fund for helping people back to work. Although her health was deteriorating she agreed to undergo another impalnt operation and for the Fourth time had to teach herself to walk from scrath so she no longer uses a wheelchair. her determination has won her a place on the Input programme at St Thomas's hospital where she hopes to learn how to live an independant live and manage for herself once more. Although if selected as a Torchbearer she would have to do it one one crutch, and although she may not be the fastest candidate nor the youngest at 44, but she would certainly be the most proudest to complete the route