FSD scholars

Grahame Tribe
Disabled congenital condition.

After a Harley Street specialist confirmed that Grahame's frequent stumbling was a congenital disorder causing partial paralysis of his lower limbs, he was devastated. Although he tried to continue with his career, he was eventually retired on medical grounds. This eased the blow but he still had a wife and three young children, as well as a mortgage, to support.

Anxious to remain active, Grahame, now in control of a sports wheelchair, took up basketball and even considered racing. Then his wife saw an advertisement for the FSD on TV. Grahame applied and, on his second application, was awarded a scholarship. He achieved his private pilot's licence and a bright new lease of life. Grahame now helps other disabled people to get airborne and has a burning ambition to gain a commercial pilot's licence.     
    
Lisa Cowen
Lost a leg and much more after a near fatal accident

Lisa, who was working as a holiday rep in Spain when she was run over by a double decker bus, was awarded her scholarship under the sponsorship of the supermarket chain Somerfield. Unconscious for three weeks and "losing" her life more than once, Lisa was re-patriated to intensive care in the UK where she was bed-ridden for 8 long months. For an active young woman, the tubes, blood transfusions and skin grafts were her worst nightmare. Having to keep quite still was even harder for her.

But Lisa's determination not to end up being confined to a wheelchair and to get back her life astounded all who met her. Her scholarship will provide the challenges and opportunities she knows she needs to regain all her former confidence and self-esteem. We know she will win through.

Ian Rutland
Suffers from respiratory debilities resulting from curvature of the spine



From birth Ian has had only 40% of normal lung capacity which makes him tire easily and can often be painful. He makes up for this with a 110% enthusiasm for life but never thought he would fulfil his ambition of learning to fly. The regulations were against him. Nobody with limited lung capacity could fly solo, so he and many of his supporters including the FSD took up the cudgels and, after great effort, proved his, and many fellow sufferers, ability to resist altitude hypoxia.

No slouch Ian, he applied for and was awarded a full FSD Scholarship to Battle Creek in the USA where he surpassed all his and others expectations. He has now passed his JAR Private Pilot's Licence and can barely keep his feet on the ground long enough to run his successful web-site design business whose excellent work you see before you now. Fancy a flight anyone?