Karen Darke | Writer| International Speaker

About Karen

Karen is an extraordinary human being, and a woman who has touched the lives of many through her spirit for adventure. A keen runner and mountaineer, she was paralysed in a traumatic rock-climbing accident on a Scottish sea cliff at the age of twenty one - the opening chapter of her best selling book ‘If You Fall’, and the beginning of an extraordinary life.

Although she had said only the night before that she would rather die than be paralysed, Karen chose to fight preconceived ideas of just what was possible for someone who could feel nothing below their chest, pursuing instead alternative ways to access the outdoors.

Over the last decade Karen has overcome many physical and mental barriers, completing many trips others believed impossible; from marathons and triathlons, to kayaking, sit-skiing and hand-cycling in some of the most inhospitable places on the planet.

These trips have included a remarkable crossing of the Tien Shan and Karakoram mountains of Central Asia on a hand bike (1997 and raising £12,000 for charity), handcycling the length of the Japanese archipelago (2000), sea kayaking a 1200 mile length of the Canada – Alaska coastline (2003), crossing the Indian Himalaya by handcycle (2006) and skiing the Valle Blanche on a sit ski.

By far the most impressive feat to date was Karen’s groundbreaking 600 kilometre traverse of the Greenland ice cap, a month long journey across one the world’s last great expanses of wilderness, where winds can reach 200 miles per hour and temperatures drop below 40 degrees. Many seriously doubted Karen’s chances of success, yet with grit, determination and courage she proved it possible.

“I'd always thought I'd rather be dead than paralysed: One slip, one moment and everything changes...
Becoming paralysed radically changed my life and was a 'wake-up' call for me, catalysing my interest in human development. I am passionate about people, and the learning opportunities which life offers to us. As a qualified positive impact coach, NLP practitioner and complementary therapist and eight years experience with a multinational in a learning and development role, I enjoy supporting people in achieving their goals - unlocking the energy and potential that lies within us all.”

Karen Darke

Modest and thoughtful, Karen is a highly sought after and successful speaker, whose stories inspire all those who take time to reflect on what it took to achieve them.

“What is life if it isn’t an adventure? Disabled is a state of mind not a state of body, and I’m constantly amazed by what can be achieved if we set our heart and mind to it. It’s all about finding belief, confidence, motivation and commitment. And of course, friends. Then there are no limits.”

Karen Darke