AN OTLEY woman has started fundraising for ‘bionic legs’ that could transform her life.

Nicola Sheehan, who has Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia, has experienced difficulty with her balance and walking since she was a toddler.

The 44 year old, a clinical psychotherapist, has refused to let that stop her from living a rich and independent life - but in recent years has started to struggle more with her mobility.

That came to a head last October when she ended up having to ask several strangers for help to complete a short walk to the dentists.

She said: “As I start to get older I’m finding it harder and harder to balance and walk.

“Standing still stably, walking safely in busy places and particularly on stairs and busy roads has been a nightmare for me.

“I’ve nearly been run over countless times from falling in front of traffic.

“Because I look young and people don’t expect me to have a disability when they first see me people don’t slow down and I just can’t get across the road in time.”

After seeing a doctor, who said her mobility problems were due to cerebral palsy and complications linked to being born three months prematurely, Nicola decided to start searching for practical solutions.

It was while browsing on Facebook that she found out more about the ExoSym device: an ingenious, carbon fibre type of brace that redirects weight and energy to help people with lower limb conditions move freely again with little or no pain.

The equipment was originally designed to help wounded soldiers and is only available from Washington state, USA.

It has helped many people regain their freedom of movement but comes with a hefty price tag attached.

Nicola has just started a £17,000 fundraising campaign at www.gofundme.com/f/nicolas-bionic-legs.

Her page states: “Each leg costs around $10,000 and this is where I need a little bit of your help.

“I’m saving, but its a heck of a lot to find on my own.

“This pioneering, game changing, revolutionary piece of engineering could prevent me from having further costly operations on the NHS.

“Though I have done very well going to university, getting a master’s degree and studying hard in my chosen profession of therapy things haven’t been easy and the toll on my body is growing.

“I know I will always have cerebral palsy and I don’t expect to be cured.

“But I’m hoping for a sense of being able to walk without fear and to be able to cross a road without thinking that I might fall in front of traffic.

“The wonderful thing about the ExoSym is that it is not invasive, it will allow me to walk more normally.

“To be able to go to the shops, walk around and look at things without thinking I’m going to fall.

“I can’t tell you what that would mean to me.”