By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A FORMER Berwick sportswoman who was left paraplegic after a car accident last year is getting back on the horse.
Emma Booth, 23, was left tragically injured after an out-of-control truck jack-knifed into her as she travelled home from a horse race in New South Wales in April 2013.
The strong-willed rider said she refused to let the accident hold her back; instead, she had her eyes set on competing in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
“That’s the plan,” she said.
“When I was recovering in hospital, I made it my goal early on. Since I was discharged, I have slowly gotten back in the saddle with the help of some amazing people.”
Emma, who competed in her first international competition in England earlier this year, said her dreams of competing at the Rio Paralympics had been made possible through the overwhelming commitment of a close family friend.
Glenn Carter, 50, from Ride With No Limits has decided to cycle his way around Australia to afford the promising parathlete the chance to compete in the global sporting event.
“My oldest son is the same age as Emma … her parents and I go way back to when we were teenagers.
“We watched the kids grow up and if anyone felt as heartbroken as her parents, it was my wife and I,” he said.
“This is my way of trying to promote what Emma is doing and helping her reach that level.
“If she gets into the Paralympics, and I am sure she’s going to, she will be an enormous role model to future paraplegics … to see someone like Emma and how she is getting on with her new life is inspirational.”
Glenn, who Emma affectionately refers to as her uncle, hopes the gruelling 14,275 kilometres ride will bring in $70,000 to cover all of Emma’s travel costs during the preliminary period.
“I think about the ride as if it was work. I hope to raise $1000 each day and I think, that’s worth getting out of bed for,” he said of the 70-week challenge.
Glenn will set off from his home in Wantirna on Saturday 18 April travelling anti-clockwise around the country’s border. He is expected to finish courageous ride on Friday 26 June.To donate, visit www.ridewithnolimits.com.
