Carl Harding lived 16 miles from RAF College Cranwell where he taught and his daily commute was done by motorbike. One night, coming home from work to his new wife, just pregnant, he was in a head-on collision with a van that was overtaking on the crest of a hill.
"I had a smashed back, nine broken ribs, two punctured lungs, a broken shoulder and both hands and wrists were broken. At hospital, there were other complications, including renal failure, and my wife, Kate, was asked to sign for an operation that I would not live without, but still might not live with. I came through it but with the result that I am totally paralysed from the chest down and in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
"I was in hospital for a year. To start off, the Fund helped with travel costs to the hospital for Kate. It took a huge weight off her shoulders. At eight months pregnant, she was looking at houses and commuting to see me nearly every day. It was very stressful and she had to be registered with hospitals in both Harlow, where she was living, and in Stoke Mandeville in case our son, Sam, arrived early."
It was clear that the Hardings would require somewhere to live that met Carl's needs. So when Kate found a bungalow, the RAF Benevolent Fund bought it and employed a surveyor to project manage adapting it for wheelchair use. The Hardings moved in, paying a rent they could afford to the RAFBF.
Carl then won compensation for his injuries from the other driver. "I was able to repay the Fund so that they can help other members of the RAF family in need, the way they helped me."
For information about the help we offer to those disabled while in Service, please see How we can help | Death and disablement in Service.
