My Life With No Arms

AN INSPIRATIONAL armless athlete has found her ‘purpose’ and confidence after riding motorbikes as a form of therapy. Nadia Lauricella, 26, from Sicily, has phocomelia syndrome. The rare condition causes malformations of the limbs, resulting in the absence or extreme shortening of bones at birth. Nadia was born without arms, missing part of her leg, and with a curved spine. She was “never bullied at school” but did encounter prejudice from strangers. Nadia told Barcroft TV: “If I wanted to do sports, they’d say ‘how are you going to do that?’” But Nadia was determined not to let her condition stop her from living her life to the fullest. She discovered the benefits of motorbike therapy for disabled people after watching a YouTube video showing riders with a range of abilities. She was keen to try it herself, and built up a relationship with 'Motor Life', an organisation which promotes riding motorbikes as a form of therapy. “Motorcycle therapy gave me a purpose and I really feel like I’m part of something important”, Nadia said. She has confidence now, despite the odds being stacked against her - but it hasn’t always been like that. In the past Nadia would only post photographs of her face on social media, as she felt “ashamed” of her disability. “But then I realised there are worse things to be ashamed of, and that this is me.” She began to upload images showing her condition and received a huge amount of support on her Instagram page. “I’ve never felt like I was extraordinary, but I realise that this is what it might look like for other people."