Eleanor takes centre stage as she delivers her speech to the audience, stood in front of a large screen displaying her photographs.

Recently Aerobility’s Aspire-Ability participant Eleanor Stollery took to the stage at The British Aviation Group annual formal dinner in central London. Eleanor represented Aerobility as the chosen charity of the event. She demonstrated to a room of over 500 aviation and industry professionals what impact Aerobility had for her, like so many other users, encouraging them to support the charity’s mission.

“My name is Eleanor, and I’m 15 years old. I’m a performer, a singer, an audio describer, and I’m currently in the middle of my GCSEs. And I also have a severely sight impairment.

When I was just three years old, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and it took away most of my eyesight. The tumour is still part of my life today, and it has changed my life completely. The world I experience now is very different from the world most people in this room experience. Things that other people can simply see, I have to find another way of accessing. Getting around somewhere unfamiliar, reading something, finding a door, knowing what is happening in a room, or simply being able to look out of a window and see what everyone else is seeing can all require technology, assistance, preparation or a lot more effort. And there are things I know I may never be able to do in exactly the same way as other people. But I’ve learned something important. Not being able to do something in the usual way doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t try. So far I’ve been very fortunate to have some incredible opportunities in my life. I’ve performed professionally on stage in the West End, worked in television and on radio, delivered live audio description at the National Theatre, and continue to do things I never imagined I would be able to do.

And then, thanks to Aerobility, I got to do something else I never thought possible. I flew a plane. I sat in the cockpit of a PA28 and took the controls. For me, that was an incredible experience. But actually, I think it was even more special for my Dad. He has always loved aviation. He’s fascinated by flying and has always taken every opportunity he could to get up in the air. But after everything that happened to me, he never, ever thought he would sit behind his daughter and watch her fly a plane. And yet he did. He sat in the back and watched me take the controls. I think that moment probably meant as much to him as it did to me. That is what Aerobility does. It doesn't just give people with disabilities a flight. It gives people an opportunity to experience something they may have believed was completely out of reach. It gives you confidence. It gives you independence. And perhaps most importantly, it gives you the chance to discover what you might be capable of.

I’m not going to stand here and tell you that I can achieve absolutely anything. I might not. There will probably be things I want to do that I simply can’t do because I’m blind. But I’m willing to try. And I think that is what matters. Because sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t the thing you think you can’t do. It’s never being given the opportunity to find out. So if you can, please support Aerobility. Because your donation could help give someone else their moment. Their first flight. Their first time taking the controls. Their first moment of thinking, “Maybe I can actually do this.” I know what that feels like. And I can tell you, it is something I will never forget.” - Eleanor Stollery

The Aerobility community would like to thank Eleanor and her supportive parents for bravely representing the charity, and The British Aviation Group for once again nominating Aerobility at this phenomenal annual dinner.

Eleanor Stollery represent Aerobility at The British Aviation Group Annual Dinner

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