Supporting dignity and wellbeing this International Day of Persons with Disabilities

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December) and always the RAF Benevolent Fund is committed to supporting those with disabilities. 

The day aims to "promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities".

Two of the Fund's Ambassadors spoke about what disability means to them and how they were supported by the Fund. 

Corporal Stuart Robinson MBE was seriously injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2013. 

Stuart, was on a routine patrol near Camp Bastion with 15 Squadron, RAF Regiment, when his vehicle hit the IED – the force was so strong that he was thrown 30 feet from the vehicle and the explosion left him with life changing injuries, including the loss of his lower left leg and severe damage to his right leg and arm.

While recovering in hospital he took the difficult decision to have his shattered right leg amputated.

Stuart underwent intense rehabilitation at Headley Court where he had access to a specially adapted mountain trike which not only provided mobility but assisted in his rehabilitation and physical recovery.

Seeing that the trike would improve his quality of life at home and allow him to play with his son George, Stuart approached the RAF Benevolent Fund for assistance in buying the trike.

Speaking about his experiences, Stuart said: "Disability was thrown upon me since the incident occurred in Afghanistan. It's been a long tough road but one that I've learnt to embrace rather than brush aside.

"Having to pre-plan trips to accessible areas, being aware of any mobility, functional and accessible issues always enabled any trip, be that supermarket or family holiday, to be as stress free as possible."

He added: "The RAF Benevolent Fund has always been by my side during my days of coming to terms with my disability. Enabling the access needs for me and my family at my home was vital, in order for me to progress and accept my disability.

"The house is the focal point from every aspect, it allows me and my family to live with ease and comfort as any family should do. Having a disability has enabled me to go on and live my life to the fullest, giving me opportunities rather than inhibiting them."

For Joanna Martin, life changed in an instant when a training exercise left her with severe back injuries and the RAF Benevolent Fund has been by her side ever since.

In 2005, while based at RAF Leuchars, Joanna was training for deployment in her role as an RAF Reserve nurse. She was completing an assault course at the base when she fell 20ft from a cargo net during the exercise.

She said: "My injury in 2005 left me with paralysis from my lower chest down, so I now live life in a wheelchair.  

"I very soon learned in the hospital spinal unit that if I worked hard on my upper body strength, I would be able to live independently. When I face challenges in life I think back to my days in the spinal unit and the patients with more severe injuries, some who are living life unable to do anything for themselves and I thank my lucky stars to have the ability that I have. It also helps greatly to have friends who are always there for me and find a way to take me with them no matter what they are doing."

She added: "The house I was living in when I had my accident was an upper conversion so not suitable for me to go back to. I managed to buy a bungalow, but it needed to be adapted to accommodate my needs if I was to live independently. This is where the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in and made those adaptations, including ramps, wet room, fully adapted kitchen. I cannot highlight enough how much of a difference that made to me returning into the community to live independently and starting a new chapter of my life. I am still in that bungalow with all the original adaptations all these years later."

She continued: “One thing that I always have had a love for before and since my accident is sport. It is amazing how many sports can be adapted. Some of the sports I regularly take part in are rowing indoor and outdoor, kayaking, swimming and hand biking. I was lucky to have been chosen in 2016 to go to the Invictus games, in Florida, where I competed in handcycling and indoor rowing, coming home with a silver medal for indoor rowing. It was an amazing experience. I also had a trip to Israel in 2019 through the RAF Benevolent Fund to compete in the UK/Israeli games. Another fantastic experience." 

Joanna said keeping fit in general was also important to maintain physical and mental health. 

She said: "I have a small gym in my house that I train in most days. Exercise not only keeps my upper body strong which is needed for me to move my body in and out of bed and in and out of my car, but also helps my mental state remain positive."