HEATHER
MILLS McCARTNEY
In 1993
Heather Mills,
a successful
model, was
involved in
a road accident
with a police
motorcycle.
Her injuries
included crushed
ribs, punctured
lung, multiple
fractures
of the pelvis
and the loss
of her left
leg below
the knee.
Heather,
also a successful
businesswoman,
had already
had an extraordinary
life story,
and it has
resulted in
her being
awarded many
outstanding
accolades
and awards.
Former PM
John Major
presented
her with the
Gold Award
for Outstanding
Achievement;
The Times
presented
her with their
Human Achievement
Award and
the British
Chamber of
Commerce not
only named
her Outstanding
Young Person
of the Year
but also named
an award after
her - the
Heather Mills
Award. For
her charity
work in 1996
she received
a nomination
for the Nobel
Prize.
Heather had
an unusual
and traumatic
upbringing
- her Mother
left when
she was nine
and Heather
was left to
look after
her siblings
and Father.
By the time
she entered
her teens
she was his
full time
PA, organising
his social
events, designing
and publicising
his various
business endeavours.
He ended up
in prison
and Heather
left home.
Her first
job was at
a croissant
shop. The
Manager specifically
said she could
eat as much
as she liked,
she ate 25
in one day
and was promptly
sacked. She
bought the
rights to
and later
sold two American
products.
First was
the "Stick
on Bra"
and then came
"Frozen
Yoghurts".
She later
sold the rights
on for a substantial
profit.
Heather turned
to modelling
after winning
The Mirror's
"Dreamgirl"
contest and
did this for
several years.
Due to the
unreliable
income she
set up her
most successful
business venture,
ExSell Management
UK and later
sold the company
for an offer
that was too
good to refuse.
1990 she
went to Yugoslavia
for a holiday
and moved
there permanently.
She witnessed
the outbreak
of Civil War.
After which
she helped
set up a refugee
crisis centre
travelling
from Slovenia
to Bosnia-Herzegovina
negotiating
with military
and government
agencies for
hospitalisation,
housing and
re-sheltering
in the local
communities.
For two years
she commuted
between Slovenia
and England
keeping up
her modelling
career to
earn money
to help the
refugees.
She established
the Heather
Mills Trust
to raise money
for the young
disabled victims
of the war.
After her
accident,
she instigated
a nation-wide
appeal for
the donation
of unwanted
prostheses
and employed
the services
of the inmates
at Brixton
Prison to
dismantle
the limbs
and make them
ready for
transport.
October 1994,
just a year
after her
accident,
the first
convoy of
artificial
limbs and
medical equipment
left for Zagreb.
Over 22,000
amputees and
victims of
landmine explosions
have been
helped since
that convoy.
After this,
she wrote
her autobiography
"Out
on a Limb"
which landed
straight onto
The Times
best seller
list, the
proceeds going
to the Trust.
Heather's
voice is heard
in the media
and also the
political
sphere - in
Westminster
and the UN
she is well
respected
for her stance
on landmines.
In addition
to the above
she has managed
to run a half-marathon
(in Newcastle),
as well as
her media,
modelling
and charity
work. She
also hopes
to work in
politics at
some point
in the future.
It is heard
to believe
that someone
so young has
achieved so
much and is
continuing
to do so.
Heather herself
sees her accident
as happening
for a reason,
and as well
as her charitable
achievements,
she has brought
a motivational
tale of remarkable
inspiration
and hope to
many people
through her
personal appearances
and public
speaking.
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