True inspiration

Andy Walker nearly died when he broke his neck in a diving accident. But he didn’t let that slow him down. He has since climbed mountains in a wheelchair, gives motivational speeches and appeared in the TV soap ‘Emmerdale’

PRIDE IN OLDHAM

AN inspirational sportsman left paralysed from the neck down has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Andy Walker, from Shaw, nearly died when he broke his neck while diving in the sea during a New Year holiday in India in 2006.

But his spirit and determination have seen him overcome adversity and take on an ever-growing list of fund-raising feats and challenging roles.

The 34-year-old scaled Mount Helvellyn in the Lake District in a wheelchair last year and recently completed a 3,560ft climb up Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, for charity.

He is also a trustee for the Back-Up Trust spinal charity and a board member of the Ace Centre North, based in Hollinwood, which helps people with complex physical and communication difficulties.

Not only that but he gives motivational speeches and also recently appeared in popular soap “Emmerdale”, playing character Steve Kelly.

Now his hard work has been recognised through an anonymous nomination for a Pride in Oldham award.

He said: “It’s amazing to be nominated but I feel very embarrassed.

“I’ve raised money for charity before the accident and really enjoyed it.

“I’m in a position that I get the time to do voluntary work, support people and motivate them. It’s very rewarding.”

Mr Walker is adamant that just because a person has difficulties in life that does not mean they cannot achieve what they want.

He said: “I’m almost lucky that the accident has given me the opportunity to do something with my life. When people call me an inspiration it makes me laugh because I know people who really are inspirational.

The daredevil has just come back from a two-week fact-finding mission to the mountains of Austria in preparation for his next challenge of ski-ing 600km in a week to raise funds for spinal injuries charities.

He said: “Ultimately, I’d love to be the first person with any major disability to do the Olympic luge.

“I understand how some people might want to sit in bed and wallow in their situation, but that’s just not me.”

AN inspirational sportsman left paralysed from the neck down has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Andy Walker, from Shaw, nearly died when he broke his neck while diving in the sea during a New Year holiday in India in 2006.

But his spirit and determination have seen him overcome adversity and take on an ever-growing list of fund-raising feats and challenging roles.

The 34-year-old scaled Mount Helvellyn in the Lake District in a wheelchair last year and recently completed a 3,560ft climb up Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, for charity.

He is also a trustee for the Back-Up Trust spinal charity and a board member of the Ace Centre North, based in Hollinwood, which helps people with complex physical and communication difficulties.

Not only that but he gives motivational speeches and also recently appeared in popular soap “Emmerdale”, playing character Steve Kelly.

Now his hard work has been recognised through an anonymous nomination for a Pride in Oldham award.

He said: “It’s amazing to be nominated but I feel very embarrassed.

“I’ve raised money for charity before the accident and really enjoyed it.

“I’m in a position that I get the time to do voluntary work, support people and motivate them. It’s very rewarding.”

Mr Walker is adamant that just because a person has difficulties in life that does not mean they cannot achieve what they want.

He said: “I’m almost lucky that the accident has given me the opportunity to do something with my life. When people call me an inspiration it makes me laugh because I know people who really are inspirational.

The daredevil has just come back from a two-week fact-finding mission to the mountains of Austria in preparation for his next challenge of ski-ing 600km in a week to raise funds for spinal injuries charities.

He said: “Ultimately, I’d love to be the first person with any major disability to do the Olympic luge.

“I understand how some people might want to sit in bed and wallow in their situation, but that’s just not me.”




Pride in Oldham is supported by these organisations:



Balfour Beaty

Guinness Northern Counties

J W Lees Brewery

Oldham Coliseum

Oldham College

Oldham Council

Molnlycke Healthcare

Rotary Club of Oldham Metro

The Asian Business Association

University Campus Oldham




Nominate someone using the instructions in our Pride in Oldham news section