Newfound freedom on the South Downs

Article written by Albert Wright – Duchenne Dad & Action Duchenne volunteer

“We recently acquired the Trekinetic GTE wheelchair. We got this wheelchair earlier than needed, partly in over preparation for the inevitable Duchenne journey myself and my partner will undertake as parents with Zepplin (7 years old).

We previously used a manual wheelchair, mainly for transition. However, we noticed an element of independence was missing from Zepplin’s life. He could only really self-propel very short flat distances, plus I was getting repeated requests from him to join me walking the dogs in the South Downs (a two minute walk from our house in Brighton).

This was a challenge as we would walk for around 30 minutes and then Zepplin would need to be carried back due to an incline and/or muscle fatigue – not an easy thing to do with two dogs in tow. I equally couldn’t push the manual wheelchair with the dogs across the undulating uneven Sussex landscape. With these challenges, my Partner and I so often had to say ‘no’ to us taking the dogs out in the South Downs all together.

Using tech to overcome challenges

Then the Trekinetic came into our lives and now we can’t stop Zepplin from going on dog walks with us up the Downs. We are still learning it’s limitations (which are few), but we are going over gravel, mud, uneven public footpaths and overgrown heathland. Zepplin is getting in touch with nature, getting up close to animals and just loving being on top of a hill and seeing for miles on end, all under his own steam, at his own pace and his choice.

Previously we may have reserved judgment from going out somewhere like a nature reserve, a canal towpath or river walk – this is now not the case.”