How technology got Val back on her feet

Then slowly, carefully and determined, she moved forwards, her knees straightened and she was standing. Then, she was walking.

We were at the Shrewsbury Club in Sundorne Road where Val is a regular and to be truthful, a bit of a demon at the wheelchair tennis which she founded there and plays regularly.

Among those of us privileged to watch this very special moment was Dave Hawkins, also in a wheelchair from a road accident 32 years ago and now managing director of Cyclone, the company near Hull which has designed and made this magic machine.

When I thanked him for making the long journey, along with rehabilitator Imogen Fryer so that we could picture Val in the famous equipment, he said with undisguised admiration: "I'd do anything for Val, she's just amazing. It's an absolute pleasure."

Dave admitted to a bit of a lump in his own throat.

And there were plenty of those for the millions who watched Claire Lomas in this year's London Marathon, take an incredible 17 days to walk the course which the runners completed in a few hours.

That's because Claire is also paralysed and can't stand, walk or use her legs at all. The jewellery designer was left immobile from the chest down after a horse-riding accident in 2007.

So walk all 26 miles of the marathon course? Even in 17 days? How on earth did she do that? Well, Claire was wearing the same bionic ReWalk suit which made its way to Shrewsbury and which saw our own Val – who had an almost identical and catastrophic horse riding accident the same year as Claire and broke her neck – ease out of her chair, stand on her feet, press the 'magic' wrist control and for the first time in five long years, walk across the room.

There was a spontaneous cheer and a massive round of applause bringing them from the courts, the gym, those relaxing left their coffee cups and everyone flocked to watch what for Val and her family was indeed a little miracle.

She admitted to being nervous, but you'd never have known and she appeared to be in control of the equipment with its 'haversack' computer, side leg panels, the sticks and, of course, the wrist control.

If hoisted to her feet as a general rule, Val has felt faint ... but not this time. "The whole suit is supporting me, not me supporting myself and I feel absolutely fine. I have to be careful not to go too far forwards though so that I'm balanced."

Imogen was a watchful few feet behind her but honestly, not really needed and once she'd conquered walking carefully round the restaurant, Val being Val disappeared into the lift and re-appeared alongside the tennis courts outside the fitness centre.

It was a moment for rejoicing. She had tried the suit briefly a couple of months ago at an exhibition and conference but this was truly like a coming home.

Her mum Irene Bishop was there with a mix of tears and wide smile, her able-bodied tennis playing partner Sandy Ross was over the proverbial moon and Dave was absolutely delighted.

For the really technical, ReWalk is a realisation of the powered 'exoskeleton' concept and provides user-initiated mobility. It is a light, wearable brace support suit, which integrates motors at the joints, has motion sensors, a sophisticated computer system with built-in control and safety systems and tailored, rechargeable batteries.

This remarkable bit of kit means those with lower limb disabilities like Spinal Cord Injury and Spina Bifida can carry out routine functions. It promises to dramatically reduce the need for physical therapy and trips in and out of hospital for those like Val and Claire who are severely disabled and you can only imagine how it can transform life for thousands who have felt their own lives were all but over.

Former postmistress and mum of four boys (two in carpentry, one in IT and the other at university) Val Fisher has never thought that. Very early on she knew that it was a case of getting up - metaphorically speaking – and getting on with what she had, or going under. For her, the latter wasn't an option.

Now, she's as competitive in a wheelchair as any able-bodied sportsman or woman. She loves winning, has a steely look when she loses but above all else is a wonderful, generous and loving lady.

No wonder Dave will pull out all the stops for her.

These wonder machines will cost a cool £50,000 apiece included £5,000 worth of training. The personalised ones are lighter, even less conspicuous and tailored to that individual. Val, of course, would love one.

But being her, she would be thrilled most of all if she could somehow acquire one for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Gobowen where she and so many from across the world have had shattered lives transformed.

"It would be marvellous if one was available which could be used by others as well," she says.

I'd love to get hold of two – one for the hospital and one for our Shropshire heroine, Val Fisher. Anybody got any ideas how?