Woman who lives with spina bifida is Catholic of the year (From Durham Times)

Woman who lives with spina bifida is Catholic of the year

6:22pm Tuesday 29th July 2008 in News

A GRANDMOTHER has been named Catholic woman of the year for 2008.

When Diana Sanderson was born with spina bifida, doctors gave her three days to live.

But she went on to study at university, work as a probation officer and bring up a family of her own.

Mrs Sanderson, 60, will share the church award with a nun, an Iraqi campaigner and a prison worker from Cardiff.

She was nominated by her husband, Phil.

Speaking from her home in North End, Durham City, Mrs Sanderson said: "He and I have become disheartened by the number of people who are rewarded in various ways, quite legitimately, for services for or to disabled people.

"It's extraordinarily rare for disabled people to be recognised for anything they have done, unless it's a sporting achievement.

"Here I was, approaching 60, having lived every day of my life with spina bifida and all the problems that brings.

"He felt the Catholic Church, being as pro-life as it is, should be putting its money where it's mouth is."

Mrs Sanderson has two sons - Aidan, 27, and Daniel, 25 - and two grandchildren - Lewis, nine, and one-year-old Anna.

She established a Durham branch of Life, a pro-life campaign and advice group, and has been active in the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child.

Part of St Joseph's RC Church in Gilesgate, Durham, Mrs Sanderson works with a bereavement support group.

She has been a trustee of Durham Disability Voice and a member of Durham Access for All.

Mrs Sanderson was notified of her award through a telephone call, taken by her husband.

She said: "I'd been nominated before and it hadn't gone anywhere so I certainly didn't expect it to result in anything."

Mr Sanderson, 57, said: "It was the biggest moment of elation I'd had for a long time. I dashed into the kitchen and said: You've got it'."

Mrs Sanderson will be honoured at a lunch at the Thistle Hotel, in London, in October, where she will meet her fellow winners, Sister Ann Teresa, founder of the Medaille Trust, Dr Suha Rassam, founder of Iraqi Christians in Need, and Julia Clark, who works with young offenders at Cardiff prison.