AN 18-YEAR-OLD Chippenham teen who was left paralysed due to a tumour and has battled leukaemia was left flying high after taking to the skies in a World War One plane.

Ben Conolly was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in October 2013 and left paralysed from the chest down after a routine procedure found a tumour pressing down on his spinal cord.

The former Sheldon School pupil underwent a bone marrow transplant earlier this year and is now in remission.

And last month the teen took to the skies twice as part of CLIC Sargent’s flying day for kids with cancer, with Ben flying a four-seater Tobago plane and a World War One Tiger Moth.

“I have always loved flying, I was in the Air Cadets when I was 14 and just fell in love with it,” said Ben, whose dad Sam and grandfather Harry both served in the RAF.

“When I was poorly I never really thought about flying again but when I was up there it was all hand controls really so there was no difference.

“Getting in and out was a different procedure but it’s all doable and I’m going to try and get my private pilot’s licence.

“I just like to keep active and do everything I think I can because life’s too short.

“I enjoyed the Tiger Moth because there was a massive difference, there were no electronics it was all raw.”

Geoff Jarvis, Henstridge Airfield owner and event organiser of the flying day for kids with cancer, said: “Why do we do it? Simply because we can.

“It’s the chance in a lifetime for these children, some of whose lives can sadly be so short.”

Suzi Conolly, Ben’s mum, said: “He’s always had a passion for flying and found it absolutely exhilarating.”

Ben now plans to re-launch his charity Go Inspire at the Castle Combe Circuit next Monday, which enables disabled people to drive an adapted track car around the track.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do because when I was in Stoke Mead I saw a lot of depressed people who didn’t accept their situation well.

“I’ve always loved motorsport and that’s what got me through and I thought I would start this charity to allow physically challenged people to come out for the day and drive super cars.

“You forget about everything when you go around a track in a car.”