Â鶹Éç

What age are you?

44

Where are you from?

The East Riding of Yorkshire

Tell us a bit about yourself

I had Cauda Equina Syndrome in April 2012 and this left me with nerve damage to my left leg, so I now use either crutches or a wheelchair (depending on what I’m doing) to get around.

I was a bit of an upper-body wimp and it’s taken a good year or two to be able to propel myself in my wheelchair with any confidence. Now that I can get out and about again independently, I want to build up my stamina and strength when self-propelling.

One day, I’d like to be able to take part in a 5K race. I don’t care about winning – it’s more about my own participation.

I hope Make Your Move will allow me to...

Increase my current levels of physical activity and push myself to achieve something that is genuinely challenging.

When I first looked at the Make Your Move challenges, I was annoyed that I couldn't see anything suitable for wheelchair users but when I contacted the team, they suggested a few options. I’m grateful for their help because by starting with the YMCA challenge (which I did for a week or two).
I have now plucked up the courage to try the Take a Hike challenge.

Top 3 work out songs?

1. 500 miles by Peter Kay, Matt Lucas and The Proclaimers - There’s the obvious wheelchair connection but it’s catchy and has a feel good factor to it.
2. William Tell Overture (aka The Mom Song) by Anita Renfroe - It’s one of those tunes that makes me want to keep going and get faster and faster. The lyrics motivate me to be a good girl and keeping working!
3. Alive by Hillsong Young and Free - Another song with a really catchy beat to roll to. The words of the verses are really meaningful to me, talking about getting through dark times and pressing on.

What is your motivational mantra?

I take a huge amount of inspiration from a guy called Nick Vujicic. He was born without arms or legs and yet he hasn’t let it stop him doing anything. He goes around the world speaking in schools and colleges about body image and bullying.

I have a poster in my office with one of his quotes, “I have the choice to be angry at God for what I don’t have or be thankful for what I do have.” When I first injured my back, I was angry and focused my thinking on what I had lost but over time, I am learning to be thankful for the many good things that I have.

Give us 3 words to describe how you feel about your dance challenge?

Determined. Excited. Sisu*
[*this is a Finnish word (we use to live in Finland). “Sisu begins where perseverance and grit end. It is the second wind of mental toughness, after the individual has reached the limits of their observed physical or mental capacities” (Emilia Lahti, 2013)]

Nicki is on her blog. Take a look, and make sure to tell us how you are getting on by using #MakeYourMove on , and .