Sheila Austin - Climbed the Sydney harbour bridge
I'd like to share my triumphant moment with you all.
My cerebral haemorrhage came out of the blue five years ago. For several days I lay inert with nothing functioning on the left hand side, and unable to see. Gradually with the support of my family and the help of excellent physios I started the long journey back. I am now very mobile, but have visual defects and post stroke pain. Little did I think as I began to relearn to walk and climb stairs that I would end up doing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, but this photo just shows what can be achieved with a lot of determination.
Small groups of people leave base every 15 minutes for the climb, after an hour's worth of training and kitting-up. You must wear rubber-soled shoes for the climb, but everything else is supplied. As you will be walking over the top of four traffic lanes, two railway lines and a pavement, it is essential that you have nothing loose that might be dropped and you are not allowed to take a camera with you. You wear a jump suit that zips at the back with a d-ring for things like specs and a hat to be attached. A safety belt with personal walkie-talkie, and even a hankie with a length of elastic sewn on one corner for you to secure to your wrist, is supplied.
The route follows a narrow catwalk and up vertical ladders through the traffic and out onto the top of the bridge, up the arch to the apex, across the middle and down the arch, then down ladders through the railway lines and back to the start. The only time a climb is cancelled is if there is an electrical storm. The feeling when you emerge onto the crest of the bridge is fantastic and the view is wonderful. You are 440 ft up and at twice the height of Sydney Opera House.
I remember in the early days after my stroke that I wanted to hear of some success stories of other stroke survivors, so I hope my story will inspire you.
Thanks to Sheila for sending in her experience. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)
- c/o PROFILES,
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