Sledge hockey is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting paralympic sports to watch. In fact, it’s probably a bit too exciting for a wimp like me. Watching players slide towards each other at high speeds balanced on giant blades, whilst waving sticks around and hitting a puck at up to 100mph – there seems like an awful lot of things that could go wrong in that mix! But for tougher sports fans than me, this is all part of the attraction.

Sledge hockey drew in the crowds at the Paralympic Games and in the run-up to the games 62% of visitors to the ParalympicsGB website voted for sledge hockey as the sport they were most looking forward to watching.   Of course, the main problem with any sport involving ice is that unless you’re a penguin finding somewhere to play year round is always going to be tricky. Many ice rinks in theUKhave shut down in recent years and even if you are lucky enough to live within sliding distance, the expense of attending on a regular basis could act as a barrier to those interested in giving winter sports a try.

Matt Lloyd is a Paralympian and sledge hockey player and now one of the first players to champion inline sledge hockey, a new sport invented in theUK. Inline sledge hockey utilises specially constructed sledges which run on wheels; players propel themselves with two sticks which are also used to hit the puck. With the ice rink out of the equation, inline sledge hockey works particularly well in school sports halls and outdoor hard-standing; this, coupled with the relatively low cost of the equipment means that it is a sport that can be taken into schools for taster sessions and events without requiring a huge outlay.

Matt is a passionate evangelist for the sport, and I caught up with him to find out more about it.

What drew you to sledge hockey in the first place?

I have Spina Bifida and I can’t walk very well. When I was in my teens all my friends were getting into ice hockey and roller hockey; I used to have to sit on the side of the rink and keep score. I also had some very competitive cousins who I spent a lot of time with; they played football for their county and I really aspired to be like them. When I realised there was a sport that I could get involved in, that I could play against non-disabled people and not be defined by my physical limitations, it was like a light going on! I just wish I had found out about it sooner.

What sets it apart from other paralympic sports?

For me the key thing about sledge hockey is that it’s a really inclusive sport. Unlike a lot of other disability sports there is not a points system that dictates who can play against who. We have amputees, non-disabled players, wheelchair users, – all playing together. I think partly it’s because for a lot of people wheelchairs are still seen as a real stigma, which is a real shame. But we’ve seen lots of people who don’t want to use a wheelchair to play basketball, for example, who are happy to get into a sledge. There’s more of a perception that it’s not a mobility aid, it’s a piece of sports equipment.

You’re taking inline sledges into schools; what kind of response to the sport are you getting from children and young people?

We see in schools that kids will just jump straight into a sledge and have a go. We really have all ages and all abilities playing, kids from the age of 5 whizzing around on inline sledges right up to pensioners. One of the things that teenagers find particularly appealing is that the sledges are really customisable. They can go into a mainstream skate shop and buy new wheels, they can use roller hockey accessories, adapt the frames, respray the sledges just as they would a bike. If they were doing that to a £3000 wheelchair they’d be in big trouble!

How much does an inline sledge cost? Is there funding available for people wanting to have a go?

Obviously the first step for anyone wanting to have a go would be to come and try out a sledge at one of the events we’re organising. To buy your own sledge costs about £600 and we can certainly help with information on where to get the funding from. I know a lot of players have received funding from the Lord’s Taverners, and the Spinal Injuries Association have provided a lot of funding to us as an organisation. We do know that there can be some resistance; one charity advised the mother of one of our players to “get him to take up wheelchair basketball instead” because they were used to funding sports wheelchairs and didn’t really understand anything about sledge hockey, but we would always challenge that attitude pretty strongly. The sledges are certainly cheaper than a decent sports chair and they’re a hell of a lot more robust – they have to be!

I’m sure I can’t be the only person who thinks that sledge hockey looks pretty terrifying, whether it’s on wheels or on ice. What kind of qualities do you think make a good player?

Well, it is a full contact sport. Just like rugby or American football, you do get some hard knocks. I’ve lost a couple of teeth and had a few concussions but that’s playing on ice against other paralympians. We don’t expect everyone to be superheroes; it’s a real learning curve.

Have you had any setbacks on your mission to bring inline sledge hockey to the world?

On the whole the response has been really positive. I would say the only negative thing is that paralympic sport in general suffers from a real lack of quality coverage. Over and over again you see the same few faces- usually retired paralympians. Outside the disability press how often do you hear about David Weir, for example? He’s at the top of his game, winning gold medals all over the world – most people in theUKhave never heard of him. The mainstream press seems very hung up on football as well; I think if hockey and ice hockey were bigger news in the UK then it would be easier for us to get more recognition.

What are your plans for inline sledge hockey?

Things are moving really fast for us at the moment. It was only last year that we first bolted some wheels onto some sledges at the Interspinal Games at Stoke Mandeville and had a go! We’re now about to be recognised as a proper sport and we’re organising an inline sledge hockey tournament for October 2010. We’re hoping to have at least five or six teams competing, and that following on from that other people will begin setting up local teams and clubs with support from the British Sledge Hockey Association. We’ve also got sledge hockey players participating in other schools events where elite ice hockey players go in to talk to kids about health and sport; more inclusive activities like that will help spread the word. Other countries are already watching with great interest to see what we’re developing here.Australia, for example, has pretty much nothing in the way of ice sports and it looks like inline sledge hockey might be a way in for them as well.   <Information box> The British Sledge Hockey Association   Stoke Mandeville Stadium Guttmann Road, Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, HP21 9PP  

Website: www.sledgehockey.co.uk Email: info@sledgehockey.co.uk  

RGK (manufacturer of inline sledges)   RGK Head Office Units 8B/C Ring Road Zone 2 Burntwood Business Park Staffordshire WS7 3JQ   Website: www.rgklife.com Telephone: 01543 670077

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1. Reach for the sky with sitting volleyball!
2. Disability Cricket – The Umpire Strikes Back
3. Kitebuggying in Cornwall

What was it about sitting volleyball that made you think “That’s the sport for me!”?

My route into sitting volleyball was actually pretty lucky. I started off in swimming, and I was asked by Kent County Council to become one of their Disability Officers. It was at a meeting there that I met Tom Middleton who told me that I was an ideal candidate for sitting volleyball – I’m a double leg amputee, caused by a congenital condition. He asked me to come along to an open day event organised by Volleyball England. I went along and really enjoyed it – and now I’m competing internationally!

What’s your training routine like?

At this level the training is pretty intensive. I’m doing nine sessions a week altogether. I and some of the other players have been chosen to take part in the Talent Transition program at Bath University – this involves our stability, fitness and weight being continually assessed. We also do a specially designed program including at least three aerobic sessions a week, to lift our heart rate above a certain rate, as well as sport-specific activities such as ball exercises. Some of the training activities are definitely more fun than others but being on the program does help – you know that there’s going to be someone checking up on you, monitoring your progress – it makes it easier to push yourself.

Nine sessions a week, on top of your teaching job – where do you find the time?

It is difficult, but when you’re passionate about something you just make the time. I have a really supportive family – my kids, Eleanor and Patrick, have been great. They help me practise my ball skills and they’re really excited at the thought of seeing me compete in the Paralympics. I couldn’t do something like this without my family backing me – it’s a real team effort.

What do the kids at school think? Are they impressed?

Well, I didn’t tell them about it for a long time – I wanted to wait until I got picked for a big competition. I did eventually talk to them about it as part of a Healthy Schools week and I think they were quite impressed by my GB kit, they asked a lot of questions.

Obviously not everyone will be competing at the same level as you, but what kind of opportunities are there for people to come along and try the game just for fun?

When I first started playing sitting volleyball we played in our local sports hall using a lowered badminton net, so if there are enough of you could go and try out a game anywhere there’s one of those. If you want to go along on your own the best bet would be to get in touch with one of the eight UK development centres for sitting volleyball. They’ll be able to put you in touch with your local club, or tell you about any open days in your area. One of the problems that we have as a sport is that volleyball – let alone sitting volleyball – just isn’t that popular here in the UK. In Europe it’s part of mainstream PE lessons in school and you see kids volleying balls around the playground like children in the UK might have a kickabout with a football. But because you don’t need a lot of specialist equipment or wheelchairs we are trying to get it into more schools, to try and get more kids having a go. It’s a really inclusive sport – people of all ages, sizes and genders can play it together and you don’t have to be amazingly talented or fit just to have fun. The only bit of equipment I use is a pair of prescription goggles which I wear instead of my glasses so they don’t go flying!

Helen and her team

More information

There are eight sitting volleyball development centres across the UK. To find out about training times and open days near you, contact your nearest development centre direct.

East London Lynx Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Karen Hung

Telephone: 0207 677 3256

Email:  Karen.hung@morganstanley.com

Portsmouth Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Steve Bailey

Telephone: 07717 733 796 or 07766 858 009

Email:  Steve.Bailey919@NTLWorld.com

East Midlands Lions Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Richard Stacey-Chapman

Telephone: 07875376945

Email: richard@eastmidlandsvb.co.uk

Website: www.lincolnshiresittingvolleyball.org.uk

Kent Wyverns Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Tom Middleton

Telephone: 07710 772533

Email: thomas@middleton2012.freeserve.co.uk

Surrey Sitting Volleyball

Telephone: 07815594338

Email: croydonvolleyballclub@hotmail.co.uk

Birmingham Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Graham Fowler

Telephone: 07866 317091

Email: g.fowler@ubvc.co.uk

Essex Pirates Sitting Volleyball

Contact Name: Ken Edwards

Telephone: 01245 474425

Email: ken.edwards@volleyball.co.uk

Merseyside

Contact Name: Matt Rogers

Email: m.rogers@volleyballengland.org

Wales – Cardiff

Contact Name: Anthony Hughes

Email: Anthony.Hughes@fdsw.org.uk

Scotland – Glasgow

Contact Name: Dave Morgan

Email: info@scottishvolleyball.org

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1. Reach for the Skies: Disabled Flying Scholarships
2. New Tricks! Dog Agility for people with disabilities
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All of my life the two things I have been most passionate about are animals and art. I studied art and graphic design when I was in college and have always had a pet of one sort or another since I was young. In my teens I was a keen horse rider. I had a pony which I would ride every day and take to competitions at the weekends.

When I was about fifteen my mum got us a puppy, Harvey, who was a Border Collie / Labrador cross.  As soon as Harvey was old enough I started attending dog agility classes with Millbrook Agility Dogs.  I had never tried dog agility before but I was soon hooked, attending classes twice a week in the evenings after work. A few years later I began competing with Harvey at local shows on the weekends. At the time I was living with my boyfriend Gordon in Farnham, and working full-time as a graphic designer.

In September 2004 I broke my neck at my cousin’s 20^th birthday party. My cousin had hired a bouncy castle and we were all messing around and jumping on it like big kids. There was also a trampoline in the garden and we were jumping between the two. I somersaulted from the trampoline to the bouncy castle and landed badly on the back of my neck, which fractured the bones and damaged my spinal cord at C5-C6.

The accident left me paralysed from below my arms and completely turned my life around. Due to difficulties with housing etc, after the accident I spent one year in hospital and a further year in a care home where most of the residents were mentally ill.  During my time in the hospital and in the care home I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks which caused many sleepless nights. My family was incredibly supportive through this time, helping me to get away from the care home for weekends, until eventually I was able to move in to a council house with my boyfriend Gordon.

A fresh start

After the accident the agility club I had been training with was very supportive to me and my family. The owner of the club, Kathrin Tusker, had had a serious accident herself in the past; she encouraged me to keep positive and wanted to help me to continue participating in dog agility.

Kathrin and the club held several fun dog shows and raised money to help buy the equipment that I needed.  My family also held fundraising events, and together with some grants from various disability charities, this enabled me to purchase a brand new electric wheelchair, equipped with large solid tires and great suspension. It was perfect for off-roading around an agility field and taking the dog out for long walks in the woods. This was something that I had really missed doing whilst I was in hospital.

Before starting dog agility again I decided to get another dog. I knew that I would have to learn to train the dog in a completely different way and I felt that Harvey, who was getting older, would be too used to me being able to run and turn fast. I got my new dog Kye (a Belgian Shepherd cross) from Battersea Dogs’ Home in London. Kye was six months old when I got him and pretty skinny from spending most of his life out on the streets. He was under-socialised and a bit of a young hooligan at first so before starting him with the agility training I took him to dog obedience lessons in a nearby village hall.

Barking mad?

When I first brought Kye to my agility club I think everyone there thought that I was mad! Despite our obedience lessons he was barking at everyone (and everything!) in sight.  But after lots of training, taking him on walks and introducing him to other dogs he did calm down a lot. I soon discovered that he was an incredibly loyal dog and very eager to learn.  I started agility lessons with Kye three years ago in January 2007.  The other people in the class that I joined were all beginners learning from scratch, this suited me because I was also learning a completely new style of training.

Being in a wheelchair is obviously restricting but as time went on and with help from the trainers I began to realise that I could do almost everything that the other handlers could do, just by applying different techniques. One example of this is that usually in agility the handler uses his or her arms to point the dog in the right direction. This is difficult to do if you are in a wheelchair as you need to use your arms to steer and balance, so the dog needs to learn from the position of your wheelchair where you are asking him to go.

Doing agility from a wheelchair also means that you are a lot slower than other handlers. This means that you must train the dog to work away from you and to run on ahead of you to do an obstacle if you ask him to. I have trained Kye to do this by placing his favorite toy at the end of a line of jumps and using the command “go on”. It is very important to train the dog to run on because although agility is a timed sport it is the dog, rather than the handler, who is timed.

Looking to the future

I have been training Kye to do agility now for three years and he is doing really well.  Last year we started going to small competitions and have so far come third and fourth in the beginner’s competitions.

I am really enjoying agility training and I am looking forward to competing again this summer. I have met several other disabled people and other wheelchair users who successfully compete in dog agility. It’s a great way to meet people and get out in the fresh air, as well as creating a really special bond with your dog. I would encourage anyone in a similar situation to give it a try.

Back in business

I set up www.walkagain.co.uk in 2007 after my mum Bridget found me doodling dog agility drawings on the computer.  She suggested that I should print my designs onto t-shirts and try selling them. My boyfriend Gordon put together a basic website so that I could try selling my products online and together we have been expanding the business since 2007. My most popular products are those featuring various breeds of dog in agility action!

www.walkagain.co.uk

Dog Agility

Agility is a relatively young sport which started in England in 1978.
An agility course consists of a number of obstacles including jumps, A-frames, weave poles, see-saws and tunnels which dogs must complete in as fast a time as possible. When a dog is learning agility his owner will teach him one obstacle at a time and gradually put courses together as he learns. In agility competitions dogs run against the clock. The fastest dog with the fewest faults wins, making it a fun and exhilarating sport. Certain breeds of dog like the Border Collie excel in the sport but all breeds of dogs enjoy agility and have potential in competition.

Millbrook Agility Dogs website: www.madkathagility.com

Agilitynet web site:  www.agilitynet.com

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3. Working with a Disability

Mobilise Trustee and seasoned skier Helen Robinson hit the red runs in the Italian Alps and found it exhilarating. She shares the thrills of disabled skiing.

In 1992 my husband and I received a surprise letter from the local disabled skiing club inviting us to go skiing in Austria.  We hadn’t even heard of the club and had not conceived of the idea that we would be able to ski.

Although I was interested, John didn’t fancy it.  I therefore informed John that he would staying at his parents’ house for a week while I tried this skiing lark out.  I had a fabulous time and have never looked back.

Seventeen years and many skiing holidays later, and now over pensionable age, I headed off to Sauze D’oulx in the Italian Alps in March this year with 28 other skiers and buddies from the club to enjoy my sixteenth year of hurtling down mountains.

Unfortunately the airport at Newcastle hadn’t been informed that by the tour operator that there would be six wheelchairs, six sit-skis and a number of ambulant disabled travelling, so we got off to a bad start.  Having sorted that out, we managed to arrive in Turin Airport with all our equipment intact and were duly transported in a coach up to Sauze D’oulx where we were informed by the hotel management that they too had not been informed about our wheelchairs.  Fortunately, the lift could take a wheelchair and one other person, but the bathroom doorways were way too narrow to fit a wheelchair through.  We eventually sorted something out for each wheelchair user.

VIP care

On Monday morning, we were transported to the Ski School where the news was much better.  We were all treated like VIPs, and introduced to our individual ski instructors.  This was the first time we had had a ski instructor for every disabled skier, as in the past we shared instructors and buddies.

My instructor, Andre, suggested that I should try one their Tessier bi-ski’s instead of using the one I had brought with me as the Tessier had a training bar on, which mine did not.  It was much bigger than mine, but after one run, I fell in love with it.  It proved very easy to handle, and after a few minor adjustments, I found it so comfortable.

In previous years, I had only skied on the nursery slopes and blue runs, but this year Andre had me on red runs on the first day.  Unfortunately, after three hours of skiing, my arms gave up and when Andre said “Turn left” 200 metres from the School, I went straight on into a pile of snow.  Fortunately, we weren’t injured and he ended up skiing me back to base.  The rest of the week went without incident, and I had a tremendous week of skiing.

BMW run a sponsorship project with the Sauze D’oulx ski school whereby they pay for all the instructors, lift passes and transport for all disabled skiers who visit the village. Andre has taught blind, deaf, mentally and physically disabled to ski and explained that they get about 150 to 200 skiers per year.

On the Wednesday afternoon, we had a visit from some of the BMW sponsors.  Photographs were taken, the local TV cameras appeared and we became celebrities.

Sauze D’oulx is a quiet little village in the Italian Alps popular with English skiers.  The skiing area is excellent, but it was expensive when it came to eating out.  Although we had a bit of bother with the bathroom/shower rooms, the hotel staff put themselves out to make our visit as comfortable as possible.  It was clean, comfortable and the food was wonderful.

All in all it was the best skiing holiday I had ever had but with that much fun, it won’t be the last!

Having a go

If you’re inspired by Helen’s story and you fancy having a go at skiing yourself, then the recent growth in adaptive skiing and snowboarding means it’s now easier than ever before. The charity Disability Snowsport UK, who provide information and advice on skiing, have local groups around the country and believe that anyone with some degree of mobility can participate in snowsport: “In some cases a person can ski better than they can walk, providing a freedom previously unknown to them.”

Thanks to advances in adaptive equipment there is a wide choice of kit, including sit skis in which the skier sits in a seat attached to either one or two skis, auditory aides for visually impaired skiers, and outriggers – forearm crutches with a ski tip at one end which can help with stability and turning.

Disability Snowsport run overseas activity weeks with Crystal Ski in Europe and North America and cater for all disabilities. The Back Up Trust run skiing breaks for people with spinal injuries. But you don’t have to head abroad to try it out. Indoor snow zones such as Chill Factore in Manchester, or The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead plus many of the dry slopes across Britain will run taster sessions and adaptive lessons. Disability Snowsport UK also run adaptive ski schools at Cairngorm and Braehead in Scotland, plus at Manchester and will be opening one soon in Hemel Hempstead.

Apart from the fun of learning a new skill, Disability Snowsport UK says that there is much to be had from skiing and boarding.  Not only does it increase your fitness but the charity report that there can be therapeutic and physiotherapy benefits too. For some people taking up a snowsport can lead to greater independence and confidence. Then of course there’s the après ski to enjoy!

And if you want to take it further how about racing? Disability Snowsport UK manage the British Disabled Ski team and can advise on how to get started.

More information:

To find out about local clubs contact:

Disability Snowsport UK
Cairngorm Mountain
Aviemore
PH22 1RB

Tel: 01479 861272
Website: www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk
Email: admin@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk

Holiday companies that cater for people with disabilities include Redpoint who have a popular adaptive skiing programme that allows people to ski together with family and friends. Tel: 0845 680 12 14 or visit www.redpoint.co.uk

Chill Factore
Trafford Way
Trafford Quays
Manchester
M41 7JA

Tel: 0161 749 2222
Website: www.chillfactore.com

The Snow Centre
St Albans Hill
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP3 9NH

Tel: 0845 258 9000
Email: email@thesnowcentre.com
Website: www.thesnowcentre.com

The Back Up Trust Website: www.backuptrust.org.uk

This article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

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1. Reach for the Skies: Disabled Flying Scholarships

Ace fighter pilot Sir Douglas Bader inspired the nation when he overcame the loss of both legs following an aviation accident to return to the cockpit. The World War II legend blazed a trail for many with his determination and can-do attitude.

His legacy continues today thanks to the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled (FSD). Established in 1983 in memory of Sir Douglas, the FSD awards flying scholarships to people with disabilities. The aim is to give people the chance to realise their full potential through the thrill and challenge of learning to fly. In confronting the mental and physical challenges of learning to fly, FSD find that many people discover a new found confidence and freedom.

The scholarships vary each year, depending on the number of sponsors the FSD can secure and the suitability of the applicants. So far over 300 scholarships have been awarded. After a rigorous selection process at RAF Cranwell scholars are sent on courses of either 6 weeks in South Africa or one or four weeks at British flying schools  including  the Goodwood School of Flying and Lasham Airfield near Alton, where training is provided by the British Disabled Flying Association (BDSA).

Students take a general handling flying test and if they have reached an acceptable standard of competence are awarded the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled badge. Although a few lucky students complete enough flying to qualify for a coveted Private Pilots Licence, the main aim of the scheme is not about passing tests but about realizing one’s potential despite disability, and like Sir Douglas, daring to reach for the skies.

Metamorphosis

For retired social worker Nick Poole getting a four week FSD scholarship at Lasham was life changing. Nick was invalided out of the Royal Navy with a damaged ankle in 1991 and subsequently had a below the knee amputation, followed a few years later by an above the knee amputation and other health problems. Unable to wear a prosthetic leg Nick, 57, has limited mobility and had really struggled to come to terms with his disability.

“I’d had quite a hard time and got myself in to a dark spot. The second amputation came out of the blue and as a result of it I lost my job, lost my identity and lost everything for a while. At the time I read an article about the BDFA in Mobilise magazine I was thinking that I had to get myself out of the depression that I had sunk into and do something I hadn’t done before. I had a trial flight and absolutely loved it and managed to pay for a couple more. I then applied for the scholarship and was amazed to find myself on the short list.

“The most wonderful thing about the scholarship was that I found myself as a person. I had lost myself, lost my role as a head of my family, and lost my role in society. Through the scholarship I managed to reorientate myself. It’s a very challenging course and as a consequence you have to put so much of yourself into it so that at the end of it the rise in self esteem is quite remarkable. I’m a different man now. I’m more positive and I’m able to take on life again whereas previously I’d become quite insular and almost isolated.

“Being ill opened up a Pandora’s Box that I had to deal with but now all the demons have gone. Going through the course was quite amazing. I had to do things like stalling the plane mid air – I just couldn’t do it but I had to force myself. Overcoming the stall gives you such a tremendous buzz that once you have done it you just feel so fulfilled.”

Nick flew a PA28 Piper Cherokee single engine 4 seater (affectionately known as the 2CV of the sky)   With 35 hours of flying under his belt his dream now is to qualify as a pilot and then become a volunteer pilot with the BDFA so that he can share the benefits of flying with other people with disabilities. “If you’re disabled and in a rut as I was, you’ve got to break out of it yourself because no one is going to drag you out of it. Learning to fly is a thing that anyone can do. If you’ve got limited mobility get in the air. It’s fantastic!!”

Feeling free

Flying had been a long held dream for part-time lecturer Mike Smith. “I’d been an engineer in the RAF and loved planes. I’d always wanted to fly.”

Invalided out of the RAF in 1998 after a car collided with his motorcycle., Mike, 38. suffered T4/T5 spinal injury and is paraplegic. “I read in Mobilise magazine about the BDFA and saw that there was an airfield near to me in Taten Hill so I went for a trial lesson and loved it. I then found out about the FSD scholarship.

Having survived a gruelling three day selection process at Cranwell, Mike was awarded a mini scholarship. The week long course at Goodwood was residential so in addition to flying Mike faced “the challenge of being away from home and being independent. For some people this was quite new. But scholars are normally assigned in pairs so you have someone to talk to and you are not isolated.”

“The best moment in the scholarship “says Mike, “was being able to do a landing by yourself. Getting the landing right was the hardest thing – it takes hours and hours of practice.”

Mike flies an adapted Piper Warrior PA28, four seater. Unlike many aircraft the Piper has a low wing which means that Mike can transfer from his wheelchair on to the rear edge of the wing and slide along and into the cockpit. The Piper controls are all standard except that the rudder pedals are connected to hand controls

Thanks to the scholarship Mike gained ten hours flying experience which takes him a step closer to his goal of securing the Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL). Mike now has 22 flying hours towards the 45 hours needed for the licence and will carry on flying at Taten Hill with the BDFA.

“I would really recommend flying” says Mike.  “The disability doesn’t affect it. It’s really worth a try even if it’s just having a trial flight. The feeling of flying is a great feeling. You can be out there on your own – it’s like freedom!”

Wide horizons

Luke Delahunty was thrilled to be awarded a six week scholarship and 40 hours of flying in South Africa. An ex RAF soldier and a T6 complete paraplegic, Luke, 37 had longed to fly. “It’s always been something that I’ve wanted to do but I didn’t think it would be possible because of the finance required and the accessibility.”

As a scuba diving instructor Luke was already familiar with the pleasure of moving in three dimensions. Thanks to the FSD he can now enjoy the same mobility in the skies. “The sense of freedom you get when you’re up there, and not dependent on the wheelchair, is fantastic. It literally broadens your horizons.”

Having travelled a lot Luke didn’t suffer from the culture shock that some scholars face when visiting South Africa. But what did shock him was the studying:  “It’s been about twenty years since I left school and I found groundschool phenomenally hard.”

Conquering landing was also a challenge but once Luke had mastered it he was allowed to go solo. “That was a very strange feeling; there was this big space next to me where the instructor would have been. But I was flying just as the sun was setting and I could see a full moon rising off the wing tip. It was beautiful.”

“My first solo landing wasn’t the best but after you’ve taxied back to the apron the rest of the class carry you from the aircraft and throw you into the swimming pool to celebrate!”

Luke volunteers with the The Back-Up Trust who use activities such as skiing and diving to help people with spinal cord injuries or the newly paralysed reach their potential. Now Luke plans to gain his PPL and use his flying skills to help others. “Hopefully other people will think ‘if he can do it then so can I!’”.

Information

FSD scholarships are open to people who are disabled, over 18, not in full-time education, resident in the UK, able to communicate easily and allowed to drive by the DVLA.

Applications for scholarships are available on line at www.toreachforthesky.org.uk, by telephoning 0844 578 4 578 or by writing to:

The Director
Flying Scholarships for the Disabled
Douglas Bader House
Horcott Hill
Fairford
Gloucestershire GL7 4RB.

The British Disabled Flying Association
c/o Lasham Gliding Society
Lasham Airfield
Alton
Hants GU34 5SS

Tel 01256 346424

info@bdfa.net

www.bdfa.net

The Back-Up Trust
Jessica House
Red Lion Square
191 Wandsworth High Street
London SW18 4LS

Tel 020 8875 1805

www.backuptrust.org.uk

This article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

Related posts:

1. A flying visit to Amsterdam

When my wife and I visited Cornwall to do some research for our website, www.disabledholidayinfo.org.uk we visited several attractions including the very wheelchair friendly Eden Project and Falmouth Maritime Museum which was particularly accessible. However it was some unexpected kite-buggying with the Mobius Disability Kite School on Perranporth Beach that gave me my most memorable day.

Another younger researcher (I am 64!) was due to test the kite-buggying, but couldn’t make it so I had to be the guinea pig for the day. I was very nervous beforehand and was not looking forward to the experience. However once I had met the team of instructors who reassured me that I could do as little or as much as I felt safe with, I felt more confident.

The first thing I had to do was transfer, with their assistance, from my own wheelchair to a beach wheelchair. This is a chair with balloon like tyres that I needed to sit in, in order to get onto the sandy beach from the car park. This in itself was a novel experience, to be pushed across deep sand on to and across the wide beach area.

Up, up and away!

An area on the far side of the beach was designated by the life guards specifically for kite sports so that no one was mown down! The instructor explained the safety procedures and I had to sign a disclaimer. He then drew a plan in the sand and explained about flying the kite and power zones. I thought this first stage of just flying the kite without the buggy was going to be child’s play, but how wrong I was!

At first I struggled to keep the flexi-foil kite in the air but after a while I started to get the hang of it. I was then introduced to a more powerful kite which, after a few minutes struggling with, actually pulled me out of the beach wheelchair. I had been advised that if you have problems to just let the kite go and it will drop onto the sand .But for some reason I hung on resulting in me being dumped on the beach, much to the hilarity of my wife and the instructor.

Eventually I began to get it in the air for a reasonable amount of time and was then able to try the buggy. This is a four wheeled buggy that is totally hand controlled with a steering wheel instead of foot controls. The only one of it’s kind in the country, it is very difficult to overturn. I was helped into it and my legs strapped so that they couldn’t get caught up in the wheels. I was given the kite which I got into the air and then there was a sudden surge and off I went down the beach.  I managed about one hundred yards before the kite hit the sand.

If you fancy having a go at this I would wholeheartedly recommend it. The kite flying in itself is enjoyable (although you have to have good upper body strength) and I fancy getting one just to play with. The kite-buggying however is absolutely fantastic!

Check it out

You can see kite-buggying in action by visiting the Mobius website (see contact details below) and watching the short film on their news page. Mobius told me that they are thinking of producing a tandem buggy for people who cannot do it solo. If they get enough enquiries I’m sure it will hasten this.

Every wheelchair user will have different capabilities so prior consultation about the suitability of the activity for you is essential. This activity could be classed as an extreme sport and can involve an element of risk. Although the providers carry appropriate insurance, before taking part you will be asked to sign to say that you understand this. Adverse weather conditions can affect when this activity can take place so you may need to be flexible when booking.

For more details contact the Mobius Disability Kite school at http://tinyurl.com/lexw7w or telephone 08456 430 630. Lessons start from £35 per hour.

This article first appeared in the September 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

No related posts.

The Red Wheelies Mobility Formation Team like many things came about by accident.   All the team members have  multiple sclerosis and ride mobility scooters and  wanted to race their scooters, after all even lawn-mowers are raced so why not scooters? After some initial trials and tribulations to be allowed to race they found a suitable venue.  It was while waiting to race that a couple of the girls started weaving in-and-out of each other and eureka the Red Wheelies were born.  A dressage choreographer designed the original  routine, a uniform was agreed on and as the scooters being used were all red the name Red Wheelies seemed just right. The Red Wheelies were born and took part in fun days raising money for local MS charities.

Two of the original team moved to the Kent coast where they became members of the Kent MS Therapy Centre. Realising some serious fund-raising was required, they resurrected the Red Wheelies team.  Notices were put up in the centre asking for volunteers from the users of the centre to join. A number did and were surprised how much they enjoyed themselves.  As not everyone had their own scooter, local mobility company UK Mobility was approached and agreed to supply additional scooters. Soon 8 ladies could be seen practicing on their scooters in the centre’s car-park to the strains of Shania Twain.

Performances were made at a number of local fetes and took part in the wettest Herne Bay Carnival ever.  Wet Weather conditions became synonymous with Wheelie performances to the point where wet weather is now known by the team as ‘wheelie weather’.

Realising a much bigger effort was needed by the team to raise the sort of money that could really be beneficial to KMSTC, the group decided upon the idea of a charity walk. Due to the teams shared condition charity walks are normally not an option but the group were set upon the idea of participating in one themselves.  After one of the team went to Cumbria on holiday she suggested the team ‘walked’ Hadrian’s Wall on their scooters, in effect the team’s second pair of legs.

An email was sent to David McGlade at Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, the company with overall responsibility for the trails, explaining the plan while asking for any help they could offer.  Their response was superb, leading to the company being instrumental in helping plan the route and introducing the Wheelies to people on the trail who could help.

Forever Active stepped in to offer the team ten Quingosports  scooters for the trek.  These scooters are fantastic, designed specifically for the terrain covered on the route.  Knowing the teams penchant for attracting ‘Wheelie Weather’ local firm Colmans of Herne Bay donated wet weather gear.

The trek should take approximately a fortnight to travel the 84 miles between Segedunum and Bowness-on Solway.  At the end there will be a lasting legacy of a trail that is truly suitable for all.  The team consists of 16 individuals – the nine actual Wheelies, plus seven long-suffering husbands acting as the teams support crew.   The team is treating it as their annual holiday, paying for their  own accommodation, travel and food expenses. As a result all money raised will be going direct to the charity.  Progress on the walk can be followed on both  www.redwheelies.co.uk and www.twitter.com/redwheelies.

The journey starts with  a Blessing from The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, as the Wheelies move from one World Heritage site  to another – Hadrians Wall.  On the 11^th of May a  civic send-off from Segedunum by the Chief Executive of North Tyneside Council starts the walk proper, which concludes with a reception at the end of the walk with the Mayors of Allerdale and Maryport.

The Hadrian’s Wall Walk team are a diverse collection. Eight of the nine members are grannies, two celebrate their ruby wedding anniversaries this year, three will turn 60 before the end of 2009 and between them boast an impressive combined age of 542. The ninth member is an ex-wheelie who jumped at the chance to take part.

Planning the walk has been hard work but fun for the group.  Having done it all themselves, the team remain surprised at how much they have already achieved, beyond their own expectations.  The team hope to raise money for the charity, help create a trail suitable for use by disabled people, raise positive ms awareness – there is life with MS and to have fun and a memorable experience.

This article first appeared in the July 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

No related posts.

When people ask me why did I write Walking on Wheels, I have a stock answer.  “Because it was needed”, I say.  There was a complete dearth of information on barrier free countryside paths accessible to those of us requiring wheels for our mobility. That, of course, is only part of the story but the more I think about “why” the more confused I get.

Was it in my nature?  Was it my upbringing?  Would it have happened had I lived a century ago? Perhaps I was just part of our early 21st century, “go-for-it” attitude and saw an opportunity?

What I know for sure was that Walking on Wheels was part of my journey through life living with MS. It would never have happened had I not become an ‘MSer’, dependent on an assortment of wheelchairs and scooters for the past 10 years.  I feel very fortunate in my nature and my nurture.  I’m an optimist by nature and a problem solver by education.

But enough of soul-searching.  By the mid-1990s I took early retirement from my final post as a part-time typist.  Although I did not realise it at the time, this job was part of my journey towards becoming a published author. It gave me the basic computer skills.

Scottish Disabled Ramblers is born

Five years into retirement and I was becoming just bored enough to rise to the challenge of problem-solving my way back into the countryside but this time in my wheelchair.  I discovered there was a group in England called the Countryside Access Group run by the inspiring Dr Mike Bruton.  I soon found myself organising a similar group in Scotland.

First of all a group of service providers and disabled friends met together. In January 2000 we had an inaugural meeting and set up Scottish Disabled Ramblers (SDR) which was to be run by and for disabled people.  For nearly five years I lived, breathed, ate, slept and dreamt of all things pertaining to wheelchair countryside access.  I was, perhaps naïvely, very keen to promote an ethos of self-reliance and to encourage responsibility for oneself.  In an era of health and safety I felt I was walking a tightrope.  It was, perhaps, that tightrope that led to the demise of SDR but ironically it was also that ethos which allowed the growth and development of four autonomous disabled rambling groups in Scotland – all of which are still functioning to this day.

What next?  What to do with all this information I had collected? The next stage of my journey began.  I had new skills to learn, not least Multimap (a computer programme).  I had new funds to find and for this I am most grateful to Workability run by Leonard Cheshire.  I had a publisher to seek.

A eureka moment

Finding Bríd Hetherington, owner of Cualann Press, was the eureka moment.  And it all happened through serendipity.  I was looking in my local directory for a printer and after ‘printer’ saw ‘publisher’ listed.  There was only one publisher so I gave them a ring and left a message.  Several days later Bríd came to see me and took me on.  She turned my sow’s ear into a silk purse.

The journey has not stopped.  New paths open all the time and I mean that both literally and metaphorically.  New all-ability, countryside paths are opening up all the time.  And new paths on my journey through life as an MSer continually surprise me.  Having been asked to write this article is just one of many.

The success of my book, Walking on Wheels, of which 1400 have been sold, raising nearly £6,500, now means the Trust has the delightful task of distributing grants.  For years I have been applying for grants and now the table has turned and I am part of the team awarding grants.

More information:

For more information on the book see: www.walkingonwheels.org

Scottish Disabled Rambler Groups

Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers  www.ftdr.com

Highland Disabled Ramblers        www.highland-disabled-ramblers.org

West Lothian Disabled Ramblers    Bathgate office : 07521320680

Angus Disabled Ramblers                Chairperson : 01674 830328

This article first appeared in the July 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

Related posts:

1. Explore Oban: Accessible rambles and attractions

Has sailing always been something you’re been interested in?

No, not at all! I’d been stuck at home for three months and a friend of mine asked if I wanted to go sailing. It seemed like a good idea at the time and so I went. It turned out to be a life-changing moment. I found out something I wanted to do and I felt like me again.

Three months without leaving the house: was that because you were depressed?

It was because of the care system. It’s not designed to get you out and about, just in and out of bed and that’s if you’re lucky. (Hilary and I then shared our moans and groans about home care provision!).

You’re now a record-breaker after becoming the first disabled woman to cross the English Channel single-handed. How did a few goes at sailing develop into this amazing accomplishment?

After a month of just going out once a week I decided I wanted to do more. It seemed everyone else was progressing with their sailing and I wasn’t. I was fed up with just being the passenger while someone else controlled the boat. So one day after sailing I said to the operations controller (who is the person who looks after the lake) “You know, I think I can cross the Channel on my own”. He looked a bit surprised and just dismissed it as if I’d said something a little bit stupid. But I wasn’t going to be put off that easily and two days later I phoned him up and said “Guess what I’m going to do next year?” I cannot possibly repeat what he said!

Hilary is only able to move her head, eyes and mouth and I wondered how she was going to be able to navigate her boat unaided through one of the busiest and most treacherous shipping lanes in the world.

At the time I said I was going to sail across the Channel I actually had no idea if it would really be possible – but I like a challenge. As I use the “sip and puff” system to drive my electric chair. I thought it couldn’t be too difficult to use the same technology to drive a boat. I’d also done a bit of research and seen that this technology was already being used by disabled people in the USA.

So how exactly do you control a boat with “sip and puff”?

The system uses three straws which are connected to sensitive pressure switches. The computer is mounted in front of me and a gentle “sip” on one straw takes the boat starboard, whilst a “puff” takes the boat to port. The second straw controls the winch motor for both sails in a similar fashion and the third straw controls my autopilot, amongst other things.

So how did your turn your idea of crossing the channel into reality?

I bumped into Emma Richards at the Boat Show in London.  Emma was my sailing hero, she’d sailed solo around the world in the round the world yacht race, Around Alone. She thought my idea of crossing the Channel was brilliant and through her contacts I managed to get the loan of a boat. The UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) provided me with training and also made special modifications to the boat. Basically together we then took the “sip and puff” controls off my wheelchair and fitted them to my boat. It meant I didn’t have an electric chair, but I did have a boat! It took so long to fit all the controls that in the end I only had two and a half hours of practice on the Solent before I set off across the Channel. But I think not knowing was probably a good thing.

You’ve made history by becoming the first ever quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel. Wasn’t that enough of an achievement?

The problem is that sailing gets in your blood. Once I’d landed back at Dover I had a microphone stuck in my face and someone asked me “What’s next?” I didn’t have a chance to think about what I was saying – before I knew it I had said I was going to sail around Britain! However, the more I thought about it the more it seemed like a really good idea.

So will you be on your boat from start to finish or do you get off at night?

You’ve obviously not seen the size of my boat! I’m going to be sailing in an Artemis 20 and it’s really pretty small. Basically, after each day or night’s sailing my team will record my finishing latitude and longitude from my GPS, so they can tow me back to exactly the same point the next sailing day. Overnight me and the team will be setting up camp close by. I think my Round Britain dream will take three to four months and I’ll be venturing both into the North Sea and the Irish Sea, as well as the English Channel.

This will be your second attempt, what happened the first time round?

Last June I set off from Dover and managed to sail 550 nautical miles but unfortunately due to consistently poor weather I had to give up. Hopefully this year the weather will be better.

Three to four months at sea doesn’t sound like much fun to me! So what is it that you love about sailing?

I’m completely free, doing something that fills me with pleasure and gives me a sense of freedom that I never thought would be possible again. It really is a great privilege. I want to share this feeling with other people and this is why I’ve set up the Hilary’s Dream Trust which exists to facilitate adults with disabilities or in financial hardship to reach their own sailing dreams. There’s basically loads of support for kids but virtually nothing for adults. My Round Britain Dream will be raising money for this charity.

Can we expect to see you in the Paralympics?

No, sailing round cans just doesn’t interest me. I like to get somewhere, so I’m an offshore person!

Is sailing something anyone can do?

Well I have no power from the neck down, so if I can do it anybody can. There’s loads of different ways for people to get involved; if you can’t operate ropes you can always work the tiller, or have a boat like mine.

More information

For more information about Hilary and the Hilary’s Dream Trust, visit www.hilarylister.com or write to the Trust at:

Hilary’s Dream Trust
The Willows
Dawes Road
Dunkirk
Faversham
Kent
ME13 9TP

This article first appeared in the June 2009 issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just  £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

Related posts:

1. Chasing Silver – Interview with Justin Hines

The Disabled Karting Championship team

Recently Helen and I were invited by Mobilise member Kumar Moorthy to attend the ‘Disabled Karting Championship’ at Cannon Raceway in Birmingham, to have a go on the adapted karts and to meet some of the drivers and organisers working to make this fantastic sport accessible to all.

Kumar is the brains behind the Disabled Karting Championship, and in 2006 he persuaded Keith Jauncy, the owner of Cannon Raceway, to pay for ten of his karts to be converted into hand controls. Since karts have no gears, the controls consist of a fairly rugged push-pull accelerator / brake lever, which leaves the other hand free to steer the kart.

As we arrived at the industrial estate where Cannon Raceway is based, Helen and I  were both a little bit apprehensive, as neither of us had ever been karting before. I’m a learner driver and I wasn’t too sure about my skills on the track, especially having to drive in front of a crowd of seasoned racers. For Helen, the main concern was whether she would be able to steer the kart effectively – we’d already been warned that there was no German power steering on these mean machines! Helen used the steering wheel socket from her own car and the helpful staff assisted in fitting this to the kart.

My lovely hairnet!

We then had to get kitted up in the babygros – sorry, boilersuits – and attractive blue hairnets before donning our helmets and climbing into the karts. The karts are very low (almost at floor level) and transferring from a wheelchair was not a particularly straightforward process. Seb Cook, a wheelchair user, explained the situation to me, saying “Obviously the karts are adapted for us, but we still have to adapt to them as well. It’s a bit rough and ready but the racing is the important thing.” Kumar hopes that as their funding increases in the future the group will be able to invest in equipment to make transferring in and out of karts easier.

The course itself is indoors, and the track is changed around monthly, so there are fresh challenges for those who use the Raceway on a regular basis. To my nervous eyes it seemed to consist of an endless series of hairpin bends followed by an incredibly high bridge that I was convinced I was going to come flying off. “Never mind,” I told myself. “The engines are so noisy, nobody will be able to hear me scream.” Driving back in to the pits after my practice lap, I soon deduced from the smirks that awaited me that this was not the case.

Helen found the steering stiff at first, but soon discovered that the faster she went the more responsive the kart seemed. Once her competitive streak came out she was whizzing round the track. Taking a leaf out of her book, I upped my speed as well, only to take a corner a little bit too quickly and end up wedged into a wall of tyres. With no gears, this meant I had to wait for trackside staff to come and haul me back onto the track – how embarrassing!

Mishaps aside, by the end of the race I could really understand the appeal. Regular racer Dave Levik told me that for him, it was all about the adrenaline – and most of the other drivers agreed.  Tommy Lau, winner of the championship, explained: “You can really push yourself to the limit. You don’t get that kind of excitement driving your regular car – well, you shouldn’t! There aren’t many opportunities for disabled people to get involved with motorsport and there’s a social side too, we’ve got a friendly rivalry going on and we have a real laugh.”

Seb agreed; “There’s a sense of camaraderie. I come from London to race here and it’s worth the trip. What we need now is more people to get involved, then more local karting centres might start adapting karts too.” For Seb, racing is also a chance to let off steam: “It’s a great way to get your anger out, it’s definitely therapeutic. When I became disabled, in hospital people were always telling me there were now limits to what I could do. I came here, crashed into a wall – and realised I wasn’t that delicate after all! But although there’s an element of danger, it is up to you how far you push yourself. It’s not a contact sport, it’s something you can take as far as you want without any pressure.”

Kumar getting ready to race

The disabled karting at Cannon Raceway has gathered momentum over the last few years, and Kumar has big plans for the future: “In 2006 there were two races. In 2007 and 2008 we had four, and for 2009 we’re planning six events.” He also hopes to establish a charity to support the championships and to raise more funds. This will enable him not only to convert more karts to hand controls but also to increase the range of adaptations available. Kumar is already working with the Motorsport Industry Association and  BRDC Stars Of Tomorrow, the program that develops karting talent in the UK and supports young racers through the various stages right up to professional driving, and he hopes to develop a parallel system for disabled karters. This will involve setting up regional championships in other locations and increasing the number of drivers taking part.

Helen and I came away from our visit with a real sense of the potential of disabled karting, not only in terms of making the sport more inclusive and accessible, but also building the confidence of learner drivers. As Kumar pointed out, karting is a great ‘first step’ for those learning to drive with hand controls; “There’s no pressure, it’s fun, and if you mess it up you’re not about to crash your driving instructor’s expensive car into a lamppost!” The only downside of our trip was that the facilities at Cannon Raceway are not perfect. There is ramped access to the front of the building (via the Laserquest briefing area!) but there is still a short flight of steps down onto the track (although there are staff on hand to assist) and at the time of writing the toilets were not yet accessible. However, Kumar hopes that many of these access problems will be resolved in time for next year’s events.

This article first appeared in the December 2008  issue of Mobilise magazine, which goes out to all our members and includes reviews of adapted cars and mobility equipment, features on accessible travel and leisure, campaign updates, news, competitions and real-life stories.
Membership of our charity costs just  £16 per year and includes your monthly subscription to Mobilise.

No related posts.