Are you looking for a speaker for an event? We have two for you to choose from. Read more about Cor and Paul below and get in touch if you’d like to book.
Dr Cor Hutton BCAc had a 5% chance of survival in a battle with sepsis in 2013. She survived, however doctors were forced to amputate both her hands and her feet. Within four months of losing her limbs, single mum Cor defied doctors with her progress when she walked a mile through Glasgow city centre on prosthetic legs, in a bid to raise awareness of the charity she had set up to help other amputees, namely Finding Your Feet. Through both emotional and physical support, Finding Your Feet has changed and even saved the lives of many amputees and their families. It has raised over £1,000,000 for the cause so far.
Since then, Cor has received three Honorary Doctorates, carried the Commonwealth Games baton, received the Freedom of Renfrewshire, been given the Points of Light award by Prime Minister David Cameron and is regularly included in Inspirational Women of the Year awards. She was the first female amputee to summit Ben Nevis, completed the London Triathlon in 2017 and became the first female quadruple amputee to climb Kilimanjaro in 2018. In early 2019, she became the first Scot to receive a double hand transplant. Cor devotes her life to running her charity in addition to campaigning to raise awareness of the need for organ, tissue and limb donors, to spot the signs of killer sepsis and prevention methods to reduce the need for amputation. She is improving perceptions and conditions for disabilities too, changing the boundaries and removing the stigma of being ‘different’. Her infectious wit, humour and ability to laugh in the face of her own adversity is both refreshing and humbling. She has spoken at events across the UK, including Tedx Glasgow and The Shard, London.
Find out more here!
Paul Johnson is a 29-year-old double above knee amputee who lost his legs at 21 when trying to take a shortcut over rail tracks. He was trying to escape his troubled background with alcohol and substance abuse from 16-years-old and became more reckless over time. Now, Paul is sharing his story of how he has turned his life around thanks to Finding Your Feet. After a couple of years of not leaving the house out of embarrassment and guilt, the charity helped him out of isolation, and he is now a public speaker raising awareness of railway safety, alcohol and substance abuse and the work Finding Your Feet Amputee Charity does. There is also a big focus in Paul’s message to not only accept your own differences and grow your self-esteem, but to also accept each other’s differences. In light of Paul’s journey and how far he has come to now being able to help the next generation, he was awarded with the Young Scot Young Hero Award 2018.