Walking on Air

Inspired by our friend’s daughter Abi Evans, a group of us are fundraising in aid of Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP).

Abi was diagnosed with a rare and debilitating condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) when she was just 17. This has had a fundamental impact on her mobility and lifestyle as now, at 21, she needs a wheelchair to get around.

Although no longer being able to pursue her dream of becoming a commercial pilot, Abi applied to the Scholarship and was accepted in 2022. This was a life changing experience for her as she ‘went from an insecure, anxious girl, to a confident young adult’. By the end of the Scholarship she was flying fully unaided and is now well on her way to obtaining her Private Pilot’s License. Having benefited so much from the Scholarship, Abi is now raising money to fund the whole amount of £12,000 required to give someone else the opportunity to realise this life-changing experience.

FSDP is a registered charity that provides those with disabilities with the unique change to learn to fly. Their mission is to ‘inspire disabled adults, building their confidence and self-esteem and future aspirations through the sharing of life changing aviation experiences’. They receive no government support but rely completely on funding from other organisations or individuals. The number of Scholarships they can offer each year depends on the funding available.

Abi’s bravery in dealing with her condition and not letting it stop her fulfil her dreams has been an inspiration to us all. She has overcome many challenges in her life already and looks to the future with renewed optimism. We are therefore keen to help her achieve her goal to give back to the charity that has had such a positive impact on her life.

So….four of us are walking 75 miles along the Kennet and Avon Canal from Reading to Bath to help Abi raise funds for another Scholarship. We will be completing this challenge over just four days, an average of 19 miles a day! Although we are all keen walkers, this is still a big challenge. We will hopefully be joined by other friends for part of the way, as well as by pilots from FSDP, and the chair, Guy Bowen.

Please help us to raise money for this worthwhile cause, if you can.

Click on the links below for further information about FSDP and EDS:

FSDP - https://www.fsdp.co.uk

EDS - https://www.ehlers-danlos.com