Springwatch host Chris Packham was visibly moved during a poignant segment that highlighted the challenges of a rare degenerative disease and its impact on accessing nature. The episode featured wildlife filmmaker and photographer Roxy Thurman introducing her grandmother, Ruth, to her profession for the first time, as Ruth's wheelchair restricts her access to many natural sites.
Roxy added, "When Nanna was growing up it was almost like CMT was something not to be spoken about, they just said it was muscular atrophy which kind of does it a disservice because it ignored the fact that it's hereditary which is why so many members of my family have been affected by it." "I won't be able to carry my kit, I won't be able to have the strength in my hands to use my camera, I won't be able to go on hikes. I'm lucky my results came back and found I don't have it...but it seems so unfair that for some people they can't experience that ," reports Birmingham Live.
Zee expressed their feelings on X stating: "You never see anyone else with CMT on the telly, so hearing the experiences of Roxy's nana on #Springwatch was both a bit of a surprise and also rather personally validating. Never let anyone tell you disability representation isn't important, because it bloody well is."