Broken Wings

There's a slight, steady incline to my left. All of a sudden I spot a boy pushing his wheelchair to the top of the slope. Arm flail madly as he sets the chair at the slope. With a whoop and a huge smile he scrapes to a halt in front of me.

"Morning Mam," he grins.

He clears the descent for the next crazy paraplegic who belts his way to the bottom of the slope, skew smile decorating his excited face. Once again:

"Morning mam!"

The joy emanating from their broken bodies ensures that these children are fighting to live a full and meaningful life.

Everywhere I walk I am confronted by smiling polite faces, faces belong to broken bodies. Some walking their strange lopsided walk unaided by people or equipment. Enjoying the fact that their feet propel them along.

A white stick meets a white stick. There is a brief moment when they are not sure who has right of way. I steer one to the left a friend steers another to the right and they proceed to their destination.

Talented children, scarred children, children with scars hidden by their clothes or their skin. Children fighting cancer, liver and kidney failure – all greet you with a smile.

Each small achievement is an Everest and each child experiences the exhilaration of overcoming the challenge.

Each child has learnt a lesson that it takes many of us far too long to learn. Appearances are nothing. Strength of character, the ability to extract happiness from the smallest achievement and the determination to get to their goals are important.

Each child will probably experience the death of pupil at some time but each child is determined to make something of their own life.

So what if I have a sore toe today? That child walking in front of me is so twisted in appearance   but the smile on his face would sit well on an angel.

The motto of the Open Air School is "I can and I will." And oh boy do they follow it! Life is theirs for the taking.

Stop the snivelling – stop the worrying. Whatever it is that you want to achieve – YOU CAN AND YOU WILL