A MUM-of-two with MS has shown there is no barrier to a high flying career during a visit to Anglesey's RAF airbase.

Sergeant Georgie Smith, an RAF recruiting senior NCO and disability advocate, took to the skies in an XXV (Fighter) Squadron Hawk T2 jet at RAF Valley recently.

Georgie, 40, who is based in Bristol, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after a colleague noticed her dragging her leg at work.

Originally from Llantwit Major, Georgie feared her career was in jeopardy when she first got her diagnosis.

She said: “It was quite a shock. My immediate reaction was, ‘that’s it, my job is over."

Four years on, super-fit Georgie is still serving with the RAF and is now an advocate for the Defence CANDID Network (Chronic Conditions and Disability in Defence), as well as volunteering her time to promote MS charities and Help for Heroes, who helped her combat the disease:

Georgie said: “I went to the Help for Heroes recovery centre in Salisbury, and they helped me discover new sports such as power lifting. I have to train.

"It’s a mental strength issue and makes me feel I can recover quicker from an MS relapse.”

Georgie joined the RAF aged 19 and served in Bosnia, the Falklands and Afghanistan.

"She has been put forward for a 'Milly,' (The Sun Military Awards) and captained the GB team in the Warrior Games in 2019, leading a team of 20 athletes to Tampa, Florida, where she also competed in power lifting, running, discus and shot, shooting and sitting volleyball.

As an RAF recruiter, Georgie users her own experiences in the service to inspire the next generation and aims to show that sudden illness or disability doesn’t have to mean the end of a career in the RAF.

Speaking of her Hawk flight she said:

“To be fit to fly and invited to do so by XXV (Fighter) Squadron is an absolute dream come true.

"The flight itself was intense and experiencing G-Force is an amazing feeling.

"The views, speed and mobility of the jet is exhilarating; the skill it takes for a pilot in the RAF to fly a fast jet and the pressure it places on the body makes one fully appreciate the selection and training pilots go through.

"I’d like to thank the Squadron and RAF Valley for giving me this fantastic experience.”