A disabled woman spent her 45th birthday cycling 400 kilometres across Egypt while raising thousands of pounds for a charity close to her heart.

Penny Roberts was the only female tetraplegic to have completed the gruelling five-day trek along the River Nile to help raise £70,000 for charity Regain, which supports people paralysed in sporting accidents.

Penny was told she would never regain movement below her chest following a skydiving accident 12 years ago.

The nurse's life changed forever when a team sky-dive in Florida - a sport she had enjoyed for many years - turned in to a nightmare. Penny's main and reserve chutes tangled and only one-third of a parachute was in operation as she fell 13,000ft on to a concrete runway.

Through determination and hard work, the mum-of-one can now move her arms, although she cannot sit up without support and requires round-the-clock care.

Penny, who lives near Ilkley, said of the Nile trip: "We rode for four days but despite the heat, I found it easier than when I did the same trek in Kenya last year. Kenya was like riding around the Yorkshire Dales, only in 30-degree heat. Egypt was much flatter.

"I started the race aged 44 and finished it aged 45. I just went to bed on the day of my birthday. There were times when I fell off my bike and I did come back with bumps and bruises, but I never felt like giving up. I am too stubborn and I think that is why I survived, when I am up against it I just rebel with anger."

Penny's son, Peter, ten, was there to see her finish the challenge.

Regain's patron is retired Paralympics gold medalist Tanni Grey-Thompson, who was acknowledged at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday for her achievements.

Penny said: "I think what she has done for the paralympics is wonderful. When I was able-bodied I used to watch the paralympics with a condescending view. I used to think, they are disabled and they are doing their best'. To cycle with your arms is much harder, you only have to look at your leg muscles compared to your arm muscles.

"Not only was I the only girl out of the five tetraplegic cyclists who took part in this event, but I was the only one from Yorkshire. What's going on? Yorkshire is being shown up!"

Now, Penny wants some female company and tetraplegics from Yorkshire to take up next year's Regain challenge in Brazil. And, of course, she has already put her name down.

Anyone who would like to take part in The Brazil Bike Ride should e-mail events@actionforcharity.co.uk.