‘Para-canoeist hopes film about her life will inspire others A woman who overcame a severe leg injury to climb mountains, row across the Atlantic and represent Paralympics GB in canoeing hopes a new film about her life will inspire others. Kelda Wood was badly hurt in a farming accident in 2002, but went on to set up a company offering outdoor activities for people who have been through life changing mental or physical trauma or illness. Breaking Waves, which tells the story of Ms Wood, from Shropshire, took five years to make and was premiered in Oswestry on Thursday. In 2023, Ms Wood was made an MBE for her services to charity. She admitted to being nervous over the first showing of the film and joked: "Give me mountains and oceans any day." Sienna Beckman, the co-founder of Emergence Films, was involved in making the film and said: "I just absolutely fell in love with Kelda's story."‘

‘Documentary about Shropshire woman Kelda Wood set for world premiere A documentary featuring Kelda Wood from Shropshire is set to cause waves of inspiration at its world premiere at the Kendal Mountain Festival today. The documentary film centres around the story of Shropshire charity founder, Kelda. The festival, which runs from 21st to 24th November in Kendal will see adventurers, authors and filmmakers share their epic stories from around the world. Telling the moving account of one extremely resilient, determined, and incredible ‘ordinary’ woman, it’s as much a story about being human and accepting failure as it is about strength, courage and overcoming tragedy. Breaking Waves sensitively explores – in Kelda’s own words, through a mix of intimate yet amusing and uplifting interviews, personal and commercial archive footage, and cinematic b-rolls – the monumental journey through a life which has thrown more than her fair share of misfortune her way.‘

‘Kelda Wood’s extraordinary story hits the big screen this autumn A documentary film that centres around the life of Shropshire charity founder, Kelda Wood, has its first public screening this autumn. ‘Breaking Waves’ has already been shown at multiple film festivals, including Kendal Mountain Festival, Vancouver International Mountain Festival, Beloit Int'l Festival, and Poulsbo Film Festival. Its first public screening will take place in the county where Kelda lives. It will be shown at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury on Nov 17th, followed by a Q&A with Kelda. The film was produced by Sienna Beckman of Emergence Films, who is committed to supporting female-identifying filmmakers. She said, “Breaking Waves is a moving account of an unbelievably resilient and determined woman, who despite being ‘ordinary’, takes us on an extraordinary adventure. It’s as much a story about being human and accepting failure as it is about strength, courage and overcoming trauma.”‘