It has been said a few times that this is the best ever chance that Great Britain has ever had of collecting Alpine Gold Medals at a Winter Paralympic Games - but most people have probably never even heard of Jo Willoughby. She has a mountain to climb even before she climbs the mountain to the start gate. You see Jo is a bit different to the rest of us. Jo might not be able to walk but boy can she ski.
Paralysed from the chest down by a childhood illness, Jo has no sensation below the neck and no movement below the chest. She has 60% movement in her left arm, a partial amputation of her left hand, full amputation of her left leg and is blind in her right eye. Despite this, she is the best female sitskier Great Britain has ever had.
Jo needs your help because at the moment; her equipment is uncompetitive, she has a fraction of the budget she needs in order to be able to train for the Paralympics,
and her health isn't the best.
Unless we all pull together the opportunity to win gold for Great Britain and the chance for Jo to fulfill a lifetimes ambition will be wasted.
Jo doesn't want your sympathy but would love your help. Having had her left leg amputated in May she only re-started her training in July after 4 months off the slopes though illness & injury. Please have a look at this web site and if you can offer Jo any help whatsoever she would be delighted. Follow her progress on this web site between now and March 2010.
