Charity purchases new mobility scooter with funds from the National Lottery

With funds from the National Lottery, the Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers have chosen a TGA Breeze mobility scooter so more people can enjoy organised outdoor adventures.

The Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers was set up in 2002. Its volunteers organise 15 accessible scooter rambles each year. The 50 members meet up at different scenic places between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay in East Scotland.

The charity had several older scooters and needed a new one that was able to drive offroad.

As a charity, the Ramblers needs donations to buy equipment, service scooters, and organise events, so Chairperson Shelia Batchelor applied to the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland for help.

The charity already had an older Breeze that it said was “built as strong as a tank”, so it knew another one would provide comfort and safety over rocky tracks and muddy trails. Sheila was successful with her bid and Harry from TGA delivered the new Breeze S4 in January.

The Breeze will be for all members to use, however, it is particularly ideal for Sheila as she has multiple sclerosis (MS). With limited movement in her right arm, it was becoming harder for Shelia to join in on rambles. Now with a Breeze, which has been adapted to have left-hand controls, she can explore in complete control whilst enjoying the company of fellow ramblers.

Sheila explained: “I contacted TGA to enquire about purchasing an all-terrain TGA Breeze. We required the controls to be switched to the left-hand side and Samantha from TGA could not have been more helpful.

“The whole process was entirely straightforward, and we took delivery of the scooter less than two weeks later. Harry delivered the scooter, arriving at the allotted time and again was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, taking time to explain all functions of the scooter and making sure it was correctly adjusted.

“The service offered by TGA staff is exemplary.”

After driving the new Breeze for the first time, Sheila commented: “It is a very stylish and robust scooter – ideal for our needs and more than capable of tackling some of the rough terrain we encounter on our rambles. The controls are easy to use for a disabled person, as are the adjustments to the comfortable seat and tiller.

“Six disabled members and a support team of volunteers and family members are to undertake the challenge of completing the Great Glen Way, from Fort William to Inverness in May this year to raise funds. The TGA Breeze will be an asset to our effort.”

In addition to raising money itself, the Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers looks for donations, as it hopes to purchase another Breeze to help with its six-day, 66-mile Great Glen Way challenge.