Flight Lieutenant Joanna Martin (46) was looking forward to being mobilised for a second tour of Iraq when, just a few days after receiving call up papers, she suffered a life-changing accident. During routine training at Barry Budden Training Camp, near Dundee, Joanna fell 20 feet from a cargo net. She suffered a T8 complete spinal injury and is now paralyzed from the chest downwards.
In her 8 years of service, Joanna was a keen sportswoman and a dedicated nurse. She served in Oman and Kuwait and, in 2003, spent four months with 612 Squadron in Basra treating the injured. Since the accident, Joanna has tackled the inevitable changes in her life with admirable resolve, but having purchased a bungalow to move into, she was confronted with significant extra costs to make adaptations necessary for a wheelchair user.The RAF Benevolent Fund’s Director of Scotland, Bob Kemp, visited Joanna at the Erskine home in Bishopton and let her know help would be available.
Having donated in the past and attended sponsored events, Joanna was aware of the RAFBF, but had never thought she would require aid. ‘The help is very important,’ said Joanna: ‘these are absolutely essential adaptations - everyone has been so kind and helpful throughout.’
