'I needed to live life the way I want'

Traumatic events prompted these inspiring women to change the course of their lives - they tell new their incredible stories

- ALI GRAVES

Attacks made Sarah rethink

Former lawyer Sarah Aspinall, 47, lives in Hertfordshire with her husband Omar, 49, and her two children. On her 30th birthday in New York she was mugged at gunpoint before another terrifying attack took place back home in London. The events changed her life and she now runs her own dance school, Breaking Ballet.

'Celebrating my 30th birthday should have been a happy memory to cherish forever, but it's one that still holds terrifying memories. It also changed the course of my life forever.

I went to New York for a three-night milestone birthday celebration with my bestie. We had a great hotel and we did the Sex And The City tour - we just had a really great time. On our last day, we were a bit hungover so went for an early dinner and decided to walk home.

It was a dark October evening, around 6.30 pm. I became aware of someone saying something to my friend and realised that she had stopped.

I looked up and he was holding a gun up at us. He was very jittery, had his hood up, and was clearly high. He demanded our money but we didn't have any - he didn't believe us.

My friend scrambled together $1.50 and a Macy's shopping card but I got quite angry.

I didn't want to empty my bag because my passport was in there.

He didn't believe I had nothing and turned the gun to my head at point-blank range.

I got my wallet out to show him I was being genuine. He was agitated, then made us turn our backs to him. Doing so slowly, we held hands and really believed our time was up.