Finally received my chair last week yet I haven't had time to share any information with you. Now that things have quieted down I can show you what it looks like and tell you a bit about it. It's the same type of chair I had before they call them "mid-wheel" as the drive wheels are the large ones which are located dead center.
This type of chair is outstanding when it comes to maneuverability, it can basically turn on a dime since when you turn one drive wheel goes forward while the other one turns in reverse. They are not that great outdoors in the winter and are useless in the snow yet for me the ease of maneuvering in and out of public washrooms, our condo, shopping malls etc. definitely make up for the shortfalls. With everything going electronic today it's no surprise that the controls for the chair are electronic as well however an LCD display? While I have just received it I cannot wait for my new chair by that time it will probably be able to climb stairs.
Hello everyone,
I'm sorry if I haven't posted anything for a while we've been kind of busy. Approximately 8 months ago I entered a contest, a chance to participate and be one of the medal bearers for the Rick Hansen 25th anniversary marathon across Canada.
Several weeks ago I received a call, I had been chosen as one of the medal bearers. Not having used my manual wheelchair for quite some time meant I had a fair amount of work ahead of me. I tried and tried, although I did make progress it fell far short of my expectations, luckily the group representing Rick Hansen were there to lend a helping hand.
I have never had the opportunity to be involved with a group so organized and devoted to their cause it was humbling. They made me feel as if I was someone special from the very beginning right to the end and then some. They went above and beyond what I expected in terms of support, assistance and follow-up for my portion of the relay.
As mentioned soon after I heard of the news I took out the old manual wheelchair and started practicing. I took several falls which set me back yet I tried to pursue in order to build the strength in my arms too overcome the distance assigned to me in this relay. Honestly, I could not have completed this relay without the help of the volunteers and my spouse which you can definitely see by watching the uTube video links attached.
On the morning of the event it was rather chilly and I over did it in the dressing department. Looking like the Good year blimp or the Michelin Man you pick however I had so much clothes on me it made it difficult for me to wheel my chair. Even though I had practiced and practiced around our buildings it was impossible for me to move beyond a few feet and this you can see in the video. Grateful for the help I received by the members of the Rick Hansen group and my spouse I am even more graceful for the support I have received from my friends.
I once read that a man should count himself lucky if he had one trusted friend well this event proved to me that I not only have one yet several. One family member I never expected to see showed up and I am forever grateful for her support, thanks Suzanne. My childhood friend Raymond showed up with Lise, as well as Pierre and Danielle. And get this, which is in my opinion unbelievable, a friend from Toronto drove up especially for the occasion. I was flabbergasted, Mr. Michael Dwyer you are the best!
All in all it made for quite a day getting up at 5:15 AM returning home after celebrations on Parliament Hill at approximately 7:30 PM we were spent and went to bed almost immediately upon our arrival. I trust you understand why I haven't posted these past few days. I've attached some videos to give you an idea of the relay. I trust you enjoy them.
Regards
Michael
There are so many things to say as a result of my experience today.
However the day started very early this morning around 5:30 AM and just ended at 7 PM wrapping up the festivities on Parliament Hill.
Pictures will follow soon.
Thanks to the organizers of this event, to my friends who came out and supported me and to Mike who drove from Belleville Ontario just to see me at this event.
