Anna's accident in 2006 left her paralysed from the waist down, but she just wanted to compete in the Winter Games; that was her dream, her passion, her goal. Anna didn’t give up on her dreams and after spending a long five weeks in a Japanese hospital, she returned to Britain and instantly began a rehabilitation course. It was here that she met physiotherapist Peter Walford and everything changed. He helped to strengthen her body, spirit, and mind after her incredibly life-changing setback.
Peter encouraged her not to give up on her dreams, no matter how far away and impossible they may have seemed in her mind. During the following year, she took up monoskiing and after countless hours of rehabilitation and hard work, in 2007 she was invited to compete for the British Disabled Ski Team. Her lifetime dream of competing on the snow wasn’t over and within a year, she made her first appearance for the British team at the NORAM races in Canada.
Anna went on to compete at the highest level of her sport, competing over many years. She went on to represent her country at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Paralympic Games, and making her new life complete, she tied the knot with Peter. Her great successes came where she claimed two silver medals and four bronze at the 2014 World Skiing Cup. Her greatest victory was not giving up on her dreams. As she put it, "We all face barriers in our lives, challenges to overcome. Bad things happen to everyone. It’s how we react that matters."
A tale that will move any audience, there are few stories more heart-warming and inspiring than that of Anna Turley. People who hear what she has to say are touched by the way she has overcome adversity and setbacks to find success and love. A phenomenal motivational speaker and a true inspiration for anyone.
