Ref. 28218-02Stewart Elliott is looking forward to going ski-ing for the first time since he was paralysed.

Stewart, 25, from Stratton St Margaret, will fly to America in January and go skiing in the Black Hills, Dakota, thanks to a special charity called Ski For Light.

He will be able to enjoy the sport thanks to a special piece of equipment which has a bucket-style seat with a main ski, about the width of a normal ski, with a small ski on either side it. He steers it by leaning one way or the other, just as able bodied ski-ers do.

He said: "I cannot wait to get on the snow. I have been water ski-ing before so hope to be tearing down the slopes in no time."

Stewart, a customer services manager at Nationwide, broke his back when he fell off a wall in London four years ago.

He had been partying with friends and decided to scale the wall of his bed and breakfast when the drainpipe gave way and he fell 30ft onto concrete.

Doctors broke the news that he would never walk again but Stewart became more active than ever.

He said: "I used to play football, which I can't do now. But I have learned so many new sports, such as water ski-ing and basketball. I also work out in the gym."

He has water-skied with the Great Britain disabled squad and plays basketball with the Swindon Kings every Monday.

Stewart has always wanted to go ski-ing again, after he went to Austria on a school trip, aged 16.

The opportunity arose by chance in the summer, when his father, John, 60, met a Ski For Light organiser, Don Theye.

Stewart said: "Dad met him on holiday in Scotland and somehow they got chatting about ski-ing. It all snowballed from there."

When Don returned to his home in Rapid City, South Dakota, he e-mailed Stewart information about Ski For Light. The charity has helped hundreds of disabled people go skiing. The group will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the Black Hills from January 25 to 29.

Stewart said: "Don invited me along. I was so thrilled and have been excited ever since. It is such a brilliant opportunity and I am really grateful."

Ski For Light will pay for Stewart's bed and board, so he only has to cover the cost of his flight and ski wear.

He said: "I haven't bought any equipment yet because I am waiting for the January sales.

"At the moment I only have a pair of goggles."

Stewart will join around 100 other disabled people on the slopes.

Mr Theye said: "It is great to have Stewart on board. He is a young man who has not let his disability get in the way of fulfilling his ambitions."

Anyone who wants to donate any ski wear to Stewart can call him on 07905 485465.