Skiing for heroes

Skiing is the sport that can perhaps provide a greater sense of freedom than any other. A new charity aims to give that fun and exhilaration to wounded former soldiers. ‘When I saw a video of him skiing, I could see that the joy had come back into his life,' says the mother of a soldier who lost a leg. Others testify to coming off the slopes in a completely different frame of mind or to improving their core strength after a spinal injury.

Skiing with Heroes is the idea of Gilly Norton, who owns a chalet in Klosters and who was inspired by the Walking with Wounded trip to the North Pole last year. The charity, launched this month, is seeking ‘ski buddies' to help take a group of veterans to Klosters in March for a week of adaptive skiing.

Chaired by Lord Glentoran, an Olympic bobsleigh gold medallist in 1964, Skiing with Heroes aims to raise £250,000 in its first year. To apply, or to donate, visit www.skiingwithheroes.com