A Bradford woman paralysed in a motorbike accident is launching a fund-raising drive to pay for revolutionary treatment.

Joanne Haigh, 33, was riding her motorbike along Allerton Road in 1993 when she skidded in heavy rain.

As she fell off the bike she slid across the road into an oncoming car, leaving her paralysed from the waist down.

"When I was first taken to the spinal injuries unit at Pinderfields Hospital they said I was never going to walk again," she said.

"I haven't got any sensation in my legs but I could move them slightly from about four or six months after the accident."

Despite being repeatedly told by her doctors there is no hope of recovery, Joanne, of Harrier Close, Lower Grange, is determined to walk again and has been scouring the internet and magazines for alternative treatments.

"They just wrote me off," she claimed. "I would like to prove them wrong," she said.

Joanne is now trying to raise £14,000 for a 13-week course of intensive treatment at the National Rehabilitation Centre for the Paralysed (NRCP) in Gloucester.

Doctors at the centre acknowledge there is no cure for paralysis, but say that through a variety of treatments patients can increase their level of mobility.

The NRCP uses a rehabilitation programme developed by Valentin Dikoul.

A former trapeze artist, he devised the system after becoming paralysed following a fall during his act. All therapy is carried out on a one to one basis and includes body strengthening exercises such as stretching, cardio-vascular training, treadmill work and massage.

Joanne has already been to the centre for an initial assessment and has booked a four-week course to start in October.

If that goes well she hopes to undertake a further nine-week course in an attempt to regain her fitness.

"The doctor at the centre said not to set my sights too high so I'm not disappointed," she said. The first thing would be to stand up and then maybe just take a few steps. But just being able to stand up would be good."

Joanne is now appealing to Bradford people for help to reach her target of £14,000.

Anyone who would like to help Joanne in her fund raising drive can contact her on (01274) 883013.