Wheels for Wellbeing is offering a cycle hire scheme for participants until the sessions restart. If you would like to find out more, please contact info@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

Edie’s parents came across Rafferty’s cycling story a few weeks ago and decided that they wanted Edie to have some cycling adventures of her own! They have very kindly shared what it has been like for Edie to enjoy some exercise and fresh air during lockdown:

“Edie has complex needs and has never been able to ride a bike, but last summer we attended several Wheels for Wellbeing sessions at Herne Hill Velodrome. Edie liked being outside and mainly being cycled about by an adult, but one day after a lot of encouragement she got on a trike and managed to pedal it a short distance. We continued to attend these sessions and by the end of the summer she was much more confident and able to pedal around the track by herself. We were so inspired by this that I’ve been scouring eBay ever since to try and find a similar trike for her, but with no success.

A few weeks ago we read in Wheels for Wellbeing’s newsletter that Rafferty had borrowed a trike and was zooming about on it. I contacted the charity straight away and they lent us the exact same trike that Edie had used a year ago. She was thrilled and we have been out on it almost every day. At first we were just cycling around the block, but last weekend we managed to get to the Common on it – she can now cycle all the way there and back, and she’s also learned to steer in and out of our driveway! As Edie has health issues we haven’t been out of the house much throughout the pandemic, so it’s been amazing to have something that motivates her, enables her to exercise and also teaches her new skills.

Thank you very much for the loan, we really appreciate it and Edie absolutely loves it.”