Case study: Charity funds mobility equipment for young girl to enjoy outdoor freedom

13-year-old Mary from Bristol is now able to fully embrace the great outdoors thanks to two new Rehasense mobility devices.

She is the owner of the Icon 30 manual wheelchair and Power Assisted Wheelchair System (PAWS) City, both of which are manufactured by Rehasense. The devices were supplied by Rehasense’s West Midlands-based retailer, Taylor Made Wheelchairs.

Mary has cerebral palsy, which affects all four limbs. She is unable to speak, despite understanding everything that is said to her, and communicates through gestures and signs.  Mary also has a voice output computer software system.

Since she was able to walk, Mary has used a manual wheelchair for longer walks, but, as she has grown, her wheelchair has needed to be replaced at regular intervals.

Mary and her family are regular visitors to the Barton Hill RFC Charity Café, which raises money for local children in the Bristol area who need mobility products.

Mary’s mother, Katharine, mentioned that they were looking for a new wheelchair for Mary, and someone at the cafe suggested they speak to Taylor Made Wheelchairs, as they had been working together on fundraising events.

Katharine got in touch, as she explained: “I am extremely grateful to the guys at the café for putting us in touch with Taylor Made Wheelchairs. We were unsure what model to go for when we first met Chris from Taylor Made Wheelchairs, but he was fantastic in showing us various options.

“We have always wanted Mary to be as independent as possible so when Chris came and assessed Mary, he explained about the PAWS from Rehasense and how it would enable her to get out and about without anyone having to push her.

“We loved the fact that the PAWS is so easy to attach to the wheelchair and that as Mary grows and changes her wheelchair, we will not have to change the PAWS!”

After the assessment, Chris recommended an Icon 30 manual wheelchair and PAWS City.

“After we had chosen Mary’s new wheelchair and PAWS, I contacted the charity in the hopes they might be able to make a small donation towards the total cost, but I was literally blown away when they said they would cover the full cost of both the wheelchair and the PAWS,” continued Katharine.

Now, thanks to Taylor Made Wheelchairs, The Barton Hill RFC Charity Café, and Rehasense, Mary is enjoying a level of freedom and independence that was previously impossible.

With the combination of the Icon 30 wheelchair and PAWS City, the family can now go on walks over terrain that was previously impassable; uneven surfaces and kerbs are no longer a problem. Mary has also grown in confidence.

Mary loves her new equipment, as she said: “I love driving my new wheelchair, it’s really fun and quick but I do have to keep asking my brother to stop having a go on it!!

“It is also very easy to use and much more comfortable than my old wheelchair and I love being able to drive it on my own thanks to the PAWS which is really cool.”

Katharine concluded: “I cannot thank everyone enough for their support. The Rehasense equipment is very well made and user friendly and combined with the team at Taylor Made Wheelchairs who are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, the whole process of changing Mary’s wheelchair has been very easy.

“I have already recommended the Rehasense equipment and Taylor Made Wheelchairs to several families and will certainly continue to do so.”

The City is the entry-level model in the PAWS range from Rehasense UK. Available with a 12” or 14” wheel, the City has been designed mainly for use around town, with the 12” wheel ideal for smooth tarmac roads while the larger 14” wheel can handle slightly more uneven surfaces.

The City can also be used indoors thanks to its turning circle of one metre. Standard features on every model include forward/reverse mode, traction control for when setting off on a slippery surface or slope, cruise control to remove the need to permanently hold the throttle, and Walk Mode. PAWS requires no frame alteration or additional add-ons to the wheelchair.

The Rehasense Icon 30 is a highly adjustable, lightweight manual wheelchair, which can be tailored to the exact needs of the user. Standard features include detachable swing-away armrests, solid puncture-proof rear wheels, angle-adjustable front fork, multi rear-wheel positioning options, and a folding backrest. With a maximum user weight of 140kg, the    Icon 30 is a great manual wheelchair solution.

Taylor Made Wheelchairs can be contacted on 01384 438150 or via email at emma@taylormadewheelchairs.co.uk

For more information on the full range of mobility solutions available from Rehasense, call 0333 220 0704, email ukadmin@rehasense.com, or visit the website