Victoria Abbott-Fleming MBE: Turning Pain Into Purpose
Some stories of leadership begin with ambition.
Victoria Abbott-Fleming’s began with adversity.
In 2003, just as her career was starting to take shape, Victoria had qualified as a barrister and begun lecturing in law when a seemingly simple accident at work changed the course of her life forever. What followed was years of medical investigations, countless hospital appointments and a diagnosis that few people had even heard of: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
CRPS is one of the most painful chronic conditions known in medicine. It is often misunderstood, under-recognised and incredibly difficult to treat.
Victoria saw 40 different healthcare specialists and tried every available treatment, but by the age of 27 she required an above-knee amputation of her right leg.
For many people, that might have been the end of their story. For Victoria, it was the beginning of a new one.
Facing the Unimaginable
Life would test Victoria again. In 2014, while on holiday, she contracted Swine Flu and was given less than a 20 percent chance of survival. After returning to the UK, she was diagnosed with CRPS in her left leg following a sciatic nerve lesion.
A second devastating decision followed. At just 35 years old, Victoria underwent a second above-knee amputation, leaving her unable to use prosthetic legs and reliant on a wheelchair.
Few people could face such life-changing challenges with courage. Fewer still would turn those experiences into a mission to help others.
Victoria chose to do exactly that.
Creating Hope for Others
Having lived with CRPS since 2003, Victoria knew first-hand how isolating the condition could be. Information was scarce. Support was limited. Many patients felt alone, misunderstood and unheard.
So in 2014, Victoria created Burning Nights CRPS Support, initially as a simple information website designed to raise awareness and provide guidance for others living with the condition.
What happened next was extraordinary. Within weeks, people from across the UK and beyond began reaching out. Messages flooded in from individuals and families desperate for information, reassurance and connection. It quickly became clear that something far bigger was needed.
In April 2016, Burning Nights CRPS Support officially became a registered charity.
Today the organisation supports more than 4,000 people every year affected by CRPS, providing information, advocacy, counselling and community support.
Building a Lifeline
Burning Nights CRPS Support is now recognised as one of the leading organisations in the UK dedicated to supporting people living with this devastating condition and their families.
With a team of volunteers and a growing support network, the charity works tirelessly to improve understanding of CRPS and ensure those affected have access to the help they need. One of its most vital services is counselling and therapy support, which provides emotional and psychological help to individuals navigating the realities of chronic pain and life-changing diagnoses. Demand continues to grow, particularly among children and young people, and the charity is working to expand these services to meet the need.
Victoria and her team are also campaigning for greater recognition of CRPS from the Government and the NHS, as well as improved national data tracking so that the scale of the condition is properly understood.
Recognition for Extraordinary Impact
Victoria’s courage and dedication have not gone unnoticed.
In 2021 she was awarded an MBE for Services to Charity, recognising the extraordinary impact she has made in raising awareness and supporting those living with CRPS.
In 2023 she was also named Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Enterprise Vision Awards, celebrating not only her leadership but the powerful difference she has made to thousands of lives.
For Victoria, the recognition is never about personal accolades. It represents something much bigger: the collective strength of the CRPS community and the volunteers who work tirelessly to support others.
Finding Strength in the Unexpected
Victoria often speaks openly about the reality of living with chronic pain and the challenges that come with a life you never planned for. Her original career path may have changed, but the impact she is making today reaches far beyond what she once imagined. Alongside running the charity, Victoria now shares her story through motivational talks and awareness campaigns, helping others understand that even in the most difficult circumstances, purpose and possibility can still exist.
Her message is simple but powerful. Life may not always unfold the way we expect, but strength can be found in what we build from those experiences.
Why She Inspires Us
Victoria Abbott-Fleming is the embodiment of resilience, compassion and purpose.
She has faced unimaginable challenges and transformed them into a mission that supports thousands of people every year.
Her story reminds us that leadership is not always about titles or careers. Sometimes it is about courage, determination and the willingness to turn personal struggle into hope for others.
Victoria’s journey shows that even in the darkest moments, it is still possible to create light. And through Burning Nights CRPS Support, she continues to do exactly that.
“I started with nothing but belief, built through adversity, and created a business with purpose – because I refused to let my circumstances define my future..”
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