Mum and aunt to climb Mont Blanc in honour of 'amazing' Bel

BBC News

28-05-2025

The mum and the aunt of a young woman left paralysed in an accident are preparing to literally climb mountains for her.Bel Young, from North Yorkshire, broke her neck when she fell from a climbing frame aged eight in 2010, and she was in hospital for nine months.Despite the challenges she faced, Miss Young completed her full-time education, studied psychology at university and now works for the charity Spinal Research.Her mother Vanessa and her aunt, Claire Topham, are set to complete a walking challenge in the Alps this week as they raise funds for the charity.
Mrs Young, from Bishop Thornton, near Harrogate, said her daughter's accident had been "devastating" for their family, but she described her achievements since then as "amazing"."I'm beyond proud of Bel," she said. "She is an astounding person. She not only inspires us but a lot of people, her friends and the wider family around her as well."Starting on Thursday, Mrs Young and Ms Topham will be scaling three peaks in three days across the Mont Blanc massif on the borders of France, Italy and Switzerland.
They will complete the gruelling climb with 14 other walkers, all of whom know someone with a spinal injury, which affects someone new every two hours in the UK.Mrs Young, 55, added: "I'm taking one of Bel's headbands with me, which I'll wear every day. Just taking a bit of Bel up with me means she will definitely be with both of us all the time while we're doing it."Spinal Research funds work looking for a cure for paralysis, and Miss Young, who is now 23, told BBC Look North: "It gives me hope that one day there will be research that can improve my function and movement, and maybe even walk again. "It's a big challenge for them to take on. It's not going to be easy and I'm super proud of them for doing their bit to help people like me."
Ms Topham, 57, said the walking challenge would be "nothing in comparison to what Bel has already dealt with"."Even I as a close family member don't fully appreciate what she goes through," she said."Doing a walk is a pertinent challenge for Spinal Research because the people affected by these injuries don't get that choice or chance, so we're very much doing it for them."
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