A HELENSBURGH woman who suffered a life-changing injury 16 years ago says being able to go out cycling has been a “lifeline” for her health.

Joanna Martin has been recognised in Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling list for her work encouraging others with spinal injuries to try handcycling.

Joanna was left paralysed from the chest down in 2005 after falling 20 feet from a cargo net during a Royal Auxiliary Air Force training exercise, but turned to handcycling to maintain her mental and physical health

She now acts as an ambassador for Spinal Injuries Scotland and continually works to promote handcycling for others with spinal injuries.

Joanna said: “I have always been keen on keeping fit by cycling, running and rowing but, in 2005 when I had an accident leaving me with a spinal injury and paralysed from mid-chest down, it became a lifeline.

“Prior to Covid-19 I was cycling with a group of handcyclists at Castle Semple at Lochwinnoch and, as an ambassador for Spinal Injuries Scotland, continually work promoting handcycling for others with spinal injuries.

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“Without my ability to get out cycling no matter what the weather, my mental and physical health would not be where it is today.”

Prior to her life-changing injury in 2005, Joanna was a keen sportswoman – and her sporting background led to her being chosen as a participant in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, carrying the baton past Inveraray Jail.

She also represented Great Britain in the Invictus Games in Florida in 2016, where she won a rowing silver medal and also took part in the shot-put and discus events as well as the event’s hand bike race.

In 2019 she undertook a 400-mile ride from Helensburgh to Cheltenham, raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, alongside her friends Cara Wilson and Lesley Serpell.

She also chairs the Helensburgh Challenger Group at Helensburgh Sailing Club, which has been promoting sailing opportunities for people with disabilities for 30 years.

Joanna was nominated for the 100 Women in Cycling by Maureen Morrison, who said: “Joanna has a spinal injury and is a real inspiration to disabled people. She is a keen handcyclist and has been for many years.

“She is always first to come forward to take part in activities for the charity to show others how cycling can have a positive impact on people’s lives.

“As a charity, we do host events ourselves to show our SCI members all of the different sports they can take part in and be able to demonstrate for them. We wouldn’t be able to do this without her.

“She is just fantastic.”

Cycling UK’s Women’s Festival of Cycling runs until August 1.

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