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After months of preparation, 37-year-old Hilary Lister became the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain. Wheelchair-bound since the age of 15 due to a progressive neurological disorder, Hilary fell in love with sailing in 2003 when a friend took her out on a lake.
"Within seconds of being on the water, a light switched back on inside me," she reportedly told BBC News. "I knew that I had found what I was going to do with the rest of my life."
The Oxford grad uses a specially adapted vessel with a "sip-and-puff" system to control her boat with three straws. One straw controls the tiller, while another lets her select five different functions to help steer.
Hilary had already earned the title of the first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the English Channel when she decided to tackle her latest challenge. Her voyage of 40 day-long sails around Britain ended in Dover harbor, where onlookers applauded.
Hilary used the challenge to raise money for her charity, Hilary's Dream Trust, which helps disabled and disadvantaged adults who dream of sailing. You know, in case sailing around a whole country without the use of her arms and legs wasn't impressive enough. Click here to watch a video if Hilary in action.
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Sunday 06 September
By huh
stick to the subject ken
Wednesday 02 September
By cash
tell me....wtf is the point,i get the motivation behind it,but its still friggin useless.do something to help humanity,not ur poor disabled ego.
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Wednesday 02 September
By Jud
While I am sure this is an acconplishment, it is not as if she did it herself. She had to have people onboard with her. Sometimes we have to be honest and face the truth. She raised money and had people with her to be able to do this. It is a false hope that every quad can do this. They cannot and neither did she. While she was there and did some controls, she essentially did not sail the boat. The others did. Lots of money was spent to rig the boat with special equipment and most (almost all) people do not have this advantage. I am happy for her that she did what she did for herself but it is not true that anyone can do this. She is still totally dependent on others for her care, feeding, body functions, cleaning, brushing teeth and so forth. It may be true that any quad that wanted to do this with the special rigging but really, how many can afford it. Just go along for the ride and enjoy it which is essentially what has been done here. Not to burst any bubbles, but this is reality. Do not give people false hope. It is not kind.
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Wednesday 02 September
By JAMES HATELEY
I loved the story. What Hilary has done, has given some hope to many Quads and people with limitations that it is possible. Quads have a saying, (YES WE CAN). People with limitation of any kind need to ask for help and not take no for the answer. It is not easy for people without money to achieve some things but it is not a reason to give up trying. We have many organizations that will help with support.
I'm a quad myself and I'm on a limited income but I snow ski, swim, play wheelchair soccer. I do this by contacting people and asking questions. By the way I'm 65.
So instead of complaining help by contacting anyone you can that may help and never take no as a means to give up.
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Wednesday 02 September
By jud
Mindy, I do not think people are bashing this woman. But lets be truthful.......the average quad person would never be able to do this. Need lots of money and people to handle all of her needs. Courage has nothing to do with this as she is never alone. Someone is there to trim the sails as this cannot be done with the straw apparatus. She is not doing this alone at all. She is a fortunate woman who raised money and probably has enough of her own money to be able to pull something like this off. It is a desire and wish that she wanted to do. It is in the same classification of a blind person flying a plane. They don't fly the plane by themselves as the same that she does not pilot the sailboat by herself either. Special equipment had to be made and neither her nor the blind pilot are alone ever. Just all the facts should be given and the whole truth. The way the story is presented makes is seem as if she did it alone. She is still a quad and she needs 24/7 care for all her needs, and she is fortunate that she has all the help she does. The people that are with her are the courages ones as this sort of work is very hard and knowing that a person will not get better ever has a toll or the care givers. It is very depressing for the patient too knowing they cannot live without the 24/7 care.
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Wednesday 02 September
By C. J.
I commend this woman on attempting to be independant and attempt so much as a person with an extreme mobility disability. What disturbs me is the fact that your are either damned if you do and damned if you don't attempt to become independant and self sufficient a person with 100% disabilties in the U.S.A. The majority of women who are disabled in the U.S.A. do not have the kind of support system available to them as this woman must obviously have, because in the U.S. a person who is disabled to this degree will not be able to receive disability benefits on SSI or more than $900 per month unless she had private medical disability insurance prior to becoming disabled. Those that had insurance (either thru accident/disability insurance) have more financial advantage over someone who did not work for many years prior to becoming disabled. In the U.S. someone who became disabled at her age would only be entitled to SSI benefits thru the Federal/State disability laws. Therefore, unless a woman who became disabled at 15 yrs. of age would need a substantial emotional, physical and psychological support system in order to accomplish what this woman has done. Too many women in the U.S. according to the CDC and Nat. Health Institute become victims of abuse and neglect, because they lack the power to influence and control the people who are taking care of these women. They are more likely to need assistance from either family or paid care givers who too often take advantage of them. (according to the NHI). It would take an incredible amount of tenacity, fortitude and positive physical and financial care for a woman to be able to do this in the U.S. While there are some women who have been able to achieve "super human" skills and opportunities who are quadraplegics, the numbers are far and few between. While the achievement accomplished by a woman with quadreplia to sail for so many days, is remarkable; and I give her alot of credit and praise for having the determination and stamina to do this, which provides a great role model for any disabled person, my biggest concern is that when a very few people with a degree of disability that she has causes everyone to believe that this can be accomplished by all disabled people. And when many people believe that this is going to be easy for all disabled people to accomplish, it sets up unrealistic expectations for the majority of disabled people who must struggle with very limited disability income, little social or emotional support or opportunities for education in the U.S. over the long period. It is definately difficult and practically impossible for someone to do any of these accomplishments without a massive degree of assistance and support from a lot of people. Just recognize these limits that are placed on the disabled who want to be financially, physically and socially independant the next time a story like this comes along and praises someone who is able to do such a feat. There is a lot more obsticles for success for disabled people than there are for the able bodied people among us. (how do I know this? I have a daughter who was born with multiple profound disabilties as a quadriplegic. And for the last 20 yrs. I have been 100% disabled trying to get financial assistance, educational scholarships and moral support from a variety of family members and agencies in the U.S.) It takes a lot of energy, fortitude and emotional grit to be turned down repeatedly by agencies where I fall through the cracks and don't fit into their limited idea of a disabled person for which they provide guidance, tuition assistance, medical care and moral support from people I am related to. Too many people in the Assistance Agencies have repeatedly encouraged me to give up my dream of getting my doctorate in Behavioral Medicine, not provided medical care (expected me to give up, because it would make their lives easier to stay unaccomplished. Things that able bodied people have opportunities to receive such as grants, tuition financed by the federal, state and private agencies all expect a person to go to school full time in order to qualify for scholarships. But because of my physical limitations I am only able to go to school part time. Therefore, I have not qualified for tution assistance in spite of my grades being all A's. I have had to live in my car and save my disability benefits to fund my tuition from my SSI payment (which is approx. $900 per month). I could not afford to rent an apt. or room, pay for food and insurance for my car and be able to save enough money for my tuition at the same time on this sum. I have the fortitude, desire, intellect and disabilties which have provided me with an incredible amount of knowledge about this subject. Unfortunately, it is going to take me 4 times longer to get my degree than an able bodied person who does qualify for scholarships, just because I am disabled. My desire to get the doctorate is based on the fact that I don't want to live in my car for the rest of my life, nor do I want to be provided for. I want to be able to be financially independent some day where I don't have to be given SSI funds. And without this degree I will be only able to receive SSI funds and live in my car. With the education I will be able to provide services to other disabled people and teach doctors and the disabled how to understand people who have disabilties who want to be independant and work for a living. It is often like being a Salmon trying to swim up river against a very strong current. It takes a lot of energy and determination to make it happen.
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Wednesday 02 September
By Grace
That is simply amazing
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Thursday 03 September
By Tammy
God bless her Truely a great story You go girl!
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Sunday 06 September
By fighterpilot
quadriplegic sets record for quadriplegic sailing
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Tuesday 08 September
By Evey
JeanJean, you misunderstand the meaning of the word "solo". The article is not saying she did it all with no help - it's saying she sailed alone. It was just her on the boat. That's what "solo" means. You don't have to be rich to accomplish something like this. There were probably a lot of donations involved from kind people, and while this was not mentioned in the article do remember that the article was an inspiring story of Hilary's accomplishments. Oh, and you spelled "kudos" wrong.
I applaud Hilary - I know so many disabled people who have given up hope of accomplishing anything, but this story is such an inspiration.
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Sunday 06 September
By Michelle
My brother was a quad for 19 yrs 10mo before he passed away at the age of 36. Jeff was the most amazing person I have ever known. He taught me more about being patient, and accepting what you HAVE over what you want than anyone else could. He is to this day, my inspiration, and my hero. It is because of Jeff, that I have chosen to go back to school to become an RN.
My brother would be so proud of this woman for her accomplishments, and for her will to LIVE. I wish more people would stop feeling sorry for themselves because they don't have what Paris Hilton has, and be happy for what they DO have. They may surprise themselves.
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Sunday 06 September
By Carol A
I just want to say : GO GIRL: You have taken on something that not alot of people would do. You have met your dream, now you can go for it. Don't worry about what anyone say's, it's your dream, go do it. God is up there watching out for you, he would never let you down. You just strive for the top, you will definately get there, and much higher. People are afraid to attemp things, but not you, you are a hard working person, despite your handicapp. Remember, if they can do it, SO CAN YOU !!!!!!!! Run for the money, I support you all the way !!!!!!! Your new Friend, Carol from the USA
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Monday 07 September
By cedercreek1
i love how people cant read it said she went to oxford im pretty sure shes loaded:) and im glad she used her money for good use like sailing... rich and famous people here in the states go out and party and do cocaine and stupid stuff like that so at least shes being productive with her money:) and thats amazing in itself that she went tocollege and graduated let alone oxford and sailed around on her boat:) so all you hater shut it :)
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Monday 07 September
By Sara
It's disappointing to see some of the ignorant posts.
The one that irritated me the most was the comment about the wealthy - you clearly don't know much about the disabled community. Yes, money has a lot to do with it, but not having a lot is no excuse for not being excellent and defying society's expectations. I'm disabled, certainly not wealthy, and I've done a lot with my life. I can say the same for a lot of other disabled people.
Props to her for an excellent story. Keep on trucking - I hope some of the people who see this news story have the intelligence to see that this is great, and another step toward realizing disability just means we do stuff differently.
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