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Banana Chat - meet Sophie-Jayne Butler

by Banana Crumble | Jan 16, 2018

My name’s Sophie-Jayne, I’m 21 years old from Essex, England. I’m a Bachelor of Science, I graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2017 with an Honors degree in Psychology. Unfortnately, in July 2017, the day I received my university results, I was in an accident that broke my back. When my back broke, it compressed my spinal cord, leaving me paralysed from the waist down. I had emergency corrective surgery to take the pressure off my spine and spent nearly 5 months in 3 different hospitals. Despite being in rehab at the time, I accomplished my goal of attending my graduation with my family and all of my friends. Now, I’m back home living with my family and my goal is to throw myself into treatment and spread spinal cord injury awareness by motivating people. My story is hard and heartbreaking but, if it can be used to motivate and inspire even one person, then I am doing a good job.

What is your favourite joke?
Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8(ate) 9. Lame I know haha.

What makes you smile?
Dogs. Always dogs. We don’t deserve them.

What is your favourite good news story?
A few years ago in the UK a homeless man gave his last spare change to help a young lady get home one night. The lady was so touched by the man’s kindness she raised funds to help him get back on his feet.

What inspires you?
My own progress. Seeing how far I have progressed and thinking about how much further I want to go. I am my only competition.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I would make the motivation for the world to be love and not money. Until people shift their motivation to be for the better of their neighbour rather than just themselves, the world won’t know peace.

If you could have one superpower what would you choose and why?
I’d want to be able to cure people’s illness/injuries. I don’t think there would be a day on earth without illness or injury but if I could have any power I’d want to change that.

What is your favourite food?
Salmon cooked in green pesto.

What is your favourite drink?
Strawberry lemonade.

If you are going on holiday what luxury item would you take from home?
Does my dog count? If not, a supply of strawberry laces and oreos for the trip.

If you could make one law, what would it be and why?
Higher education in the UK to be free. Education should be a right not a privilege and students don’t deserve to be in debt for wanting to progress their knowledge.

Give us a random piece of information about you that people wouldn’t know?
When I was a kid I was a chess champion, I competed in junior contests but I cannot remember how to play it now!

What is your favourite phrase or saying?
“If you let other people project their fears onto you, you’ll never achieve anything.”

What cause, project or event would you like to promote?
Me and my family are fundraising for treatment to recover from my spinal injury. We have set up a justgiving page for people to donate – to see Sophie’s justgiving page and to help support this fantastic cause please click here.

Who is your favourite music artist?
Beyonce.

Who is the person that you feel has shaped your life most?
My dad.