Sunday Life

Ray Edwards is learning to fly but he is no ordinary student pilot: he lost all four limbs 21 years ago to septicaemia.

In May this year Ray was the first ever NHS patient to be fitted with a revolutionary bionic hand. The £30,000 i-Limb responds to tiny electrical signals generated by the muscles in his upper arm which means that he has full use of five prosthetic fingers. He hopes this device will allow him to become the first quadriplegic amputee to fly solo.

Ray has overcome a lot of obstacles and has countless achievements under his belt, including cycling thirteen miles to raise money for the Limbless Association of which he is acting chief executive. This week we'll hear his remarkable story as he takes to the skies.

Sunday Life's faith family, the Sandersons, have been recruited to explore different religions in Britain. This week their mission, should they choose to accept it, is to learn about the importance of Ramadan to Muslims. Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting which ends with the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr in early October. The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and fasting teaches Muslims about self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity as well as reminding them of the suffering of the poor.

The Sandersons will report back this Sunday when we'll see how they got on!

Useful Links:

• BBC Religion: Islam

Fifteen years after the end of Apartheid in South Africa, young people from townships all over the country are still struggling to gain access to education and jobs. Creating employment opportunities is the key to ending poverty and reducing crime, which is exactly what Sir Richard Branson hoped to achieve when he set up his School of Entrepreneurship in Johannesburg in 2006.

Students learn vital skills for setting up their own businesses, from drawing up business plans to applying for funding. Students get to submit ideas for businesses, and those which are viable actually receive financial backing. Many of the students return to their townships to start businesses having a great impact on the community both socially and financially. This week on Sunday Life Colin meets the students, past and present, whose lives have changed as a result of the initiative.

Useful Links:

• The Branson School of Entrepreneurship