Introducing Freya - an archer who 'hit the target' by trying out Trampers!

We’re delighted to introduce Freya, who joined Outdoor Mobility back in 2023, as an Annual Member.

Freya has always led a very outdoorsy lifestyle. She was an avid hill walker, badminton and tennis player and took part in martial arts in her spare time. Freya’s main passion, though, was for archery. She even competed for England at an international level! Unfortunately, Freya’s life changed dramatically when she found herself struggling with a variety of unexplained symptoms, including extreme fatigue, which left her unable to walk far. Her previous routines saw her walking at least five miles and completing two hours of archery training daily. Freya was now unable to get out or walk any distance. She was eventually diagnosed with dysautonomia – a disorder affecting the autonomic nervous system. In time, Freya became an ambulatory wheelchair user, but she found herself frustrated that she was unable to get out into nature, and that she couldn’t move at any pace.

Freya has always loved walking with her mum, Lorrainne, and longed to get out there again. Luckily for Freya, Outdoor Mobility was already on Lorrainne’s radar – as she had been a trustee for the charity for a number of years. Freya was excited at the prospect of trying the Trampers and decided to try Grizedale first. Grizedale proved to be a great choice, as it offers a longer route, and Freya relished the opportunity to ‘go further and faster’. She felt that she was able to have ‘a bit of an adventure’ and her mum had the opportunity to get a ‘proper walk’, without having to push Freya in her wheelchair. Freya and her mum have since enjoyed many more Tramper adventures as Freya’s recovery continues.

Grizedale remains a firm favourite – it always offers a ‘quiet and tranquil’ escape and Freya says she feels it is an opportunity to ‘really get out into the hills’. Another favourite location for Freya is Sizergh Castle (National Trust). It is a short trip from home and Freya says that the delicious scones at the café are not to be missed! Freya and Lorrainne particularly enjoyed visiting the ‘Winter at Sizergh’ event over Christmas, which Freya would otherwise have been unable to attend. Freya also visited Derwent Waterside Park near Consett, towards the end of last year. Despite it being ‘a wet, horrible day,’ Freya said the experience was ‘very fun’. Freya and her mum also made a special trip to visit Delamere Forest for her mum’s birthday. They stayed in their campervan at a campsite nearby and made a two-day stay of their adventure. The Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park and Whinlatter were also great days out. Freya has plans to return to Whinlatter this year and hopes to visit Wray Castle and Lowther Castle.

Freya’s advice to anyone considering the scheme is to ‘give it a try’. In Freya’s opinion, ‘there aren’t any disadvantages and you have nothing to lose’. Her top tip for colder Tramper trips is to take a lap rug to keep you toasty!  Freya has relished the opportunity to get out and about in nature with her mum again and feels that using the Trampers is simply ‘a really nice thing to be able to do’. In Freya’s own words: ‘Outdoor Mobility is a great scheme, I’m really very impressed with it’, which is high praise indeed!

If you’d like to be featured in one of our ‘Meet a Member’ profiles, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at info@outdoormobility.org and we’ll be in touch.