Will Pike knows what it takes to overcome adversity.
Will was on holiday in Mumbai in November 2008 with his girlfriend, when Islamic Extremists attacked the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel he was staying in.
News of the attack filled TV screens the world over.
116 innocent people lost their lives.
Then a fit 28-year-old, Will was left paralysed when he fell 60 feet trying to escape.
Now a paraplegic wheelchair-user, Will has had to fight many battles not only to recover but to secure the compensation that would enable him to live the rest of his life.
But For Will, disability was not an ending. He is now a speaker, writer, and disability campaigner. Using his media communication skills he campaigns for disability rights and inclusion and has become an activist for accessibility. Will passionately believes that unless disabled people are given the same opportunities as everyone else, the negative stigma will remain. In 2016, Will produced and starred in a film to highlight accessibility problems on the high street called 'Yes I Can, If'. Will harnessed the film's success to talk about disability in the mainstream media, appearing on programmes such as Good Morning Britain.
In this episode I am also joined by co-host Sharon LLoyd Barnes who shared her story of overcoming stage 3 breast cancer in episode .18..... Check it out if you haven't heard it yet. Sharon got to know Will through her work on diversity and inclusion and introduced us.
We talk with Will about the dramatic events of that night in Mumbai.
How he has had to adapt to his new circumstances and the challenges it presents
And the work he is now doing to raise awareness of the inclusion needs of people with disability
You can find Will at https://www.willpike.co/
And on Twitter @PixilatedPike
Will's disability access film Yes I can, if ..
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Episode Credits
Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]
Host: Simon Ratcliffe
Music:
Broken Elegance -Unconditionally
River Meditation - Audioautix
When I'm gone LiQWYD
Scott Buckley - Life is
Cygnus - Tim White
