A Stonehaven woman who had to learn how to walk again after breaking her back in a horse riding accident is now planning a series of physical challenges.
Gillian Fowler was hospitalised for two months after the life-changing accident in 2008.
But after seven surgeries over the course of six years, she is now planning to walk Kilimanjaro and trek in Nepal over the next year.
She said: “I needed surgery and it was discovered I had temporary paralysis down my right side. I wasn’t able to walk for several weeks. It was a long process even being able to stand again.
“It took me a couple of months for me to walk the equivalent of 10 yards but I was absolutely determined to get out of hospital and go home.
“I had times with a physio but I also had people coming in to help me so I could do more.
“I was very sporty before the accident and I didn’t want a life away from outdoor life. I also didn’t realise how bad things were and how long it would take but I was very determined to keep going and try to see every progress as a big achievement.”
Her recovery has been a long and painful process, with seven surgeries, regular spinal injections and years of physiotherapy.
After her last surgery last year Gillian, 37, felt so good she decided to climb Ben Nevis, with her boyfriend carrying her rucksack as she couldn’t take weight on her back.
“After each of my surgeries I’ve always built up my strength by doing walks,” she said.
“Ben Nevis is just something I felt I could do. It was complete elation reaching the summit.”
Gillian is determined that something good will come out of her accident and has formed a company, Backstrong Adventures, which will offer life- changing challenges to people who want to push themselves but feel they have an injury or psychological issue that might prevent them from doing so.
She has already planned trips to Croatia next month for a week of kayaking, the Toukbal mountains in Morocco and is planning to climb Kilimanjaro in February and trek in Nepal in April.
“If someone has a medical condition then we can look at how we can help them for that trip,” Gillian added.
“I want to show what’s possible to people who are struggling with pain and other conditions.”