Sacha takes her first steps in eight years

5:45pm Sunday 10th June 2007

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A WOMAN has taken her first steps after being confined to a wheelchair for eight years.

January 1, 1999, is a date that will live long in the memory of Sacha Cooper, as it was last time she was able to walk.

The 35-year-old hotel manager from Marlborough suffered a brain haemorrhage and lost movement down the left side of her body.

Communication was also difficult as her speech was greatly affected.

She thought she would never walk again and had almost given up hope, until she started having therapy sessions with Mike O'Hara, who helps the Wiltshire Young Stroke Group.

He is the pioneer of the O'Hara Technique, specialising in hand and arm function.

He works with individuals affected by spinal cord injuries, strokes, head injuries and multiple sclerosis.

The therapist, from Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, has been giving Sacha physical therapy at the Lawn Community Centre, in Guildford Avenue, for three years, and provided her with a strong mental belief that she could walk again.

Brave Sacha said: "My speech came back after a year but my body took longer to adapt.

"Mike built up my confidence and kept pushing the boundaries by setting targets for me to reach every week. He insisted I could do it.

"I am indebted to him for helping me to walk again.

"When I made those first steps a month ago I was very emotional. It felt amazing and I couldn't believe what I was doing.

"I had pretty much accepted not being able to walk again and thought my life had ended.

"To completely turn it around was incredible."

She is still in her wheelchair and has to be looked after 24 hours a day by two carers, but she is on the road to recovery.

Sacha also has regular sessions with Headway, a charity helping people with brain injuries.

"I hope to one day get my independence back and get into work again," she said.

"I'm already doing voluntary work two days a week at a school helping children with their art work which is great fun."

Sacha has one-hour sessions with Mike every week at Lawn Community Centre. She pays half the cost of the £20 session, with the stroke group funding the rest.

The group is based at the centre but is desperate for support as it relies solely on donations from individuals or organisations.

Insurance firm Zurich presented the group with a cheque for £2,000, a sum that has been gratefully received by its members.

Pauline Turner, from West Swindon, is the group leader.

She said: "We are so grateful for any donations and can't thank Zurich enough.

"I just hope we can find some more funds from somewhere to keep us going.

"I will be asking some of the shops next week to try to get some funds, as without it people like Sacha wouldn't be able to have treatment.

"The benefits of the group are there for all to see."

It costs more than £5,000 a year to keep the group going, and funding will run out in August, so if you would like to make a donation, contact the centre on 01793 651806.