Turning bikes into trikes - and miles into smiles

Last week, from 26th to 30th August, I joined committed Whizz-Kidz supporters Rahul Moodgal and Denis Bain, and one of the charity’s Directors, Nick Goldup, for the Scottish leg of their epic journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. We covered almost 330 miles in 4 full days of cycling, and reached John O'Groats at lunchtime on Friday 30th, tired but elated.

At the age of 54 and not having cycled since my university days - and never more than a few miles at a time - I was relieved just  to make it without falling off or passing out on some beast of a hill - and there were plenty of those !

Our efforts were to help Whizz-Kidz raise the £250,000 it needs to eliminate its waiting list for Kidz trikes - specially adapted tricycles - and we received great logistical support from the the Whizz-Kidz team in London.

Childhood disability can be tough.  Kids who lack the ability to get around independently can miss out on so much : the chance to join in, to make friends and even simply to make decisions. This can leave them lagging behind in developing social skills, confidence and self esteem.  It sets them apart and cuts them adrift from childhood.  For children who already have the odds stacked against them, this is a particularly cruel twist. 

But it doesn’t have to be like this.  Whizz-Kidz is a national charity that provides disabled children with the right mobility equipment at the right time, so they don’t miss out on being a kid, or developing into a happy, confident adult.  The charity provides everything from powered to specialist sports wheelchairs.  Last year, they were proud to see Hannah Cockroft receive two gold medals at the Paralympic Games, having given her a sports wheelchair in 2007.  Indeed, the Games provided the inspiration for the challenge, Nick says:

“We all witnessed the phenomenal talent, skills and ambitions of disabled people during the Paralympics, and Whizz-Kidz wants to capitalise on the legacy of the Games - to offer greater opportunity for young disabled people across all areas of society.  We want to raise as much money as possible, so that 150 children are given the independence they deserve. If we can raise enough to give them each their own trike, we can actually give them much, much more - lives full of potential, where they can participate in the fun activities every young person is entitled to, and they  may even aspire to be the Paralympians of the future.”

The wonderful thing about Whizz-Kidz is that it’s so easy to make a difference.  For a disabled child, a trike not only gives them a reason to smile, it gives them a chance to shine.  The difference is immediate and indefinite. 

www.whizz-kidz.org.uk