Happiful February 2020

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‘It in no way interferes in his enjoyment, but it gives them that reassurance’ Tom’s trike “Tom’s a lad who has a three-wheeled trike which he uses for exercise,” says David. “His parents got him this trike so he could burn up all the energy he’s got. But the problem was that he just sped away and they couldn’t keep up with him. What they needed was something that meant they could keep going with him, and also have an emergency brake. “So our volunteer built a kind-of buggy board that goes on the back. Mum or dad rides behind him – he does all the work, but they can help and they have a brake. It in no way interferes with his enjoyment, but it gives them that reassurance.” James’ vocal cord paralysis means he can only speak quietly. With his voice amplifier, he can now be heard loud and clear! Margaux’s dwarfism comes with challenges. But her custom step gives her the same independence as other children 84 • happiful.com • February 2020
Brian is one such beneficiary of the simple fixes Remap creates. Having played bass guitar since 2000, Brian’s deteriorating condition meant that it became increasingly difficult for him to continue enjoying his instrument. In order to keep up his much-loved hobby, Brian needed something that would take the weight of the guitar off of his spine. Brian had heard about the work that Remap do, and so he reached out with his problem. This is where Paul came in. A Remap volunteer for two years, Paul first got involved with the charity to give something back to his community. When Brian’s dilemma was presented to Paul’s Remap group, he knew it was something he could help with. “I went over to Brian, had a look at the problem, took some measurements, and then came up with a design,” Paul explains. Over a fortnight, he crafted a custom-fit guitar stand, that would support Brian’s bass while he played. “I went back, it all fitted perfectly and it worked first time – which doesn’t normally happen!” Paul adds. “Brian takes the armrests off the wheelchair. There’s a socket where the chair arms go in, and the guitar rest has brackets that fix into that slot – it’s all fully adjustable.” Brian was delighted with the bracket, which he says renewed his love for the instrument. “On the feel-good factor, it’s quite an important thing for me to be able to participate in, and play, music,” Brian explains. “This bracket has taken all the weight off my shoulders and I’m playing the guitar again – I’d even say it’s improved my playing.” Brian can now enjoy his hobby without limits LAYING FOUNDATIONS Brian knows all too well the impact that being physically limited can have on your mental health. “You have this little zone which you know you can do things in, and if things in that zone become incredibly difficult it’s even worse, because you feel as though you’re becoming more and more restricted,” he explains. For Brian, taking back control of something that brought him so much joy has had a huge impact on his wellbeing, in a way that he believes can often be overlooked. “Clinically, the NHS has supplied me a chair and that’s the big picture. But once you’ve got the big picture solved, to really feel the benefit, it’s the small things that matter.” This is something David sees regularly through Remap’s work. “With the medical professionals, someone will ask: ‘Can you get yourself in and out of bed?’, ‘Can you make a cup of tea?’ It’s a list of things to tick off and then on to the next person,” David explains. “But what gets missed is: ‘What’s your passion in life? What do you love doing? And can you do that?’ “For anybody, to not be able to do the thing that you’re in to is a big downer in your life. But if you already have a big restriction, it becomes even more important that you have some way to express yourself.” JOB DONE We all deserve to live in an accessible world where we can move and our enjoy our hobbies, unrestricted. There is so much joy to be found in the small things in life. From making music, like Brian, to the countless other remarkable fixes that engineers have created over the years – Remap is the charity that picks up on the things that can easily slip down the priority list, and bumps them to the top. Powered by the generosity and aptitude of volunteers, things that begin life as dreams are turned into reality, and so often it’s a life-enhancing process for all involved. To find out more and to donate, visit remap.org.uk February 2020 • happiful.com • 85
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Happiful February 2020

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