SCI Superstar: Hilary Lister

Hilary Lister was one of the most interesting women in the world. From working as a biochemist in her early years to becoming a world-renowned sailor despite severe paralysis, she was no average human being. Read on for Hillary’s unforgettable story.

Why She Was fearless

Growing up in Hampshire, UK, Hillary was a tomboy. She went to boarding school where she fell in love with sports, especially hockey, rugby, horse riding, and swimming.

But by the age of 11 she started to notice muscle weakness and pain in her legs during a hockey pitch. After going to the doctor several times, Hillary was diagnosed with a degenerative disease, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, which meant it would get worse as the years went on.

By the age of 17, Hilary could longer walk, but still went off to university and studied biochemistry; something she could still do and was a dream she had since she was a girl. She studied at Jesus College, Oxford and went on the University of Kent to receive her PhD. However her disease kept getting worse and her arms were taking the brunt of the weakness, so she decided to step away from the biochemistry field since she could no longer safely handle the vials (she dropped $12,000 of vials one day, and that was that). This was a huge blow for Hilary.

By 2003, Hilary was not in a good place. She was preparing to end her life, not believing the spot she was taking up “on the couch” was worth it. But thankfully her outlook changed when she was introduced to adaptive sailing with a Sip ‘n Puff set-up by the Western Sailing Opportunities Adapted Sailing Club.

A miracle, sailing gave Hillary the intense feeling of freedom; a feeling she never thought she could have again, which is why it helped heal her soul. In 2005, two years after being introduced to adapted sailing, she became the first female quadriplegic to cross the English Channel which she did in 6 hours, 13 minutes.

Three years later, Hilary attempted to sail round the entire island of Britain, but she had to delay the trek due to weather issues. She tried again in 2009 and broke that record too, becoming the first woman with a disability to sail around Britain (which she did in roughly three months).

What Happened Next?

After her last big sailing event, Hilary planned another record breaking sailing adventure which just concluded – an 800 mile trek from Mumbai, India to Omar in the Middle East. She and a female sailor from that part of the world who was able-bodied made history by calling the first disabled woman and an Arabian woman duo to cross the Indian Ocean by sailing completely independently. She was 41 at the time. 

Sadly, at the age of 46 in 2018, Hilary passed away due to her deteriorating disease, but she was a spirit we will never forget. Hilary showed the world she could sail her own way and in conditions that were often comfortable while using a Sip ‘n Puff. The disability world, and the yachting world, will forever miss her fighting spirit. 

– View her Facebook/Memorial page