Introducing Gabby - a member with a passion for Trampers, who loves to get away!

We’re delighted to introduce Gabby, who joined the scheme back in 2022. Gabby loves to make use of our two-week Taster Subscriptions to access Trampers whenever she has trips away from home.

Gabby is 21 years old and lives with Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis and Generalised Anxiety Disorder. An electric wheelchair user, Gabby recently moved back home after finishing her course at university. As she is getting older, Gabby has found herself losing more mobility, making it increasingly difficult to find outdoor activities she can take part in.

Gabby and her dad are very outdoorsy and love getting away on holiday, particularly to the Lake District, as her dad had family holidays there as a child. Gabby was browsing accessible activities in the Lakes when she came across our website and describes her discovery of the Trampers as finding a ‘hidden gem’ and a ‘match made in heaven’. Gabby felt she’d found an opportunity to access the outdoors in a new way.  She was shocked at how low cost the scheme is and purchased her first 2 Week Taster subscription, starting what has become a ‘passion for Trampering’ ever since!

Gabby’s dad would previously push her in her wheelchair on their adventures, but this was becoming increasingly difficult as it often wasn’t geared for the terrain. Gabby says her dad can now walk alongside her which gives her the ‘freedom to feel independent’ and gives him the opportunity to relax, enjoying the views and their time together as her dad, rather than her carer. The Trampers provide such a wonderful opportunity for Gabby and her dad to enjoy their time together – they love to buy sandwiches and pop them in the Tramper storage compartment ready for a picnic along the way.

Gabby loves the Trampers so much, her and her dad now plan their trips around Tramper locations, and she always has her eye on our latest Blog Posts so she can keep up to date with emerging sites. Although Gabby never gets bored of the Lakes, particularly Whinlatter, which she describes as simply ‘beautiful’. She loves the WOW Trail and the panoramic views on offer. Gabby’s mum tends to stay home with Gabby’s brother, who has autism, whilst she and her dad have their outdoor adventures. But Gabby has plans to visit some of our newer, historic, partner locations with her mum in the future. Gabby’s mum loves history and the flatter terrain and historic buildings will offer the perfect opportunity for Gabby to experience the Trampers alongside her mum.

Gabby loves that, using the Trampers, she can set out on an adventure in nature without lots of forward planning, or having to worry about logistics or accessibility. She knows she will be comfortable and can simply enjoy her trip without guess work or worry – a luxury Gabby says she isn’t often afforded as a disabled person. In her own words ‘for those few hours, I don’t have to think about or worry about anything.’

Gabby would urge anyone considering the Trampers to give them a go. Her advice if you’re unsure is to start with a Taster Subscription like she did, as a very affordable way to try out the Trampers without having to sign up longer term. Taster Subscriptions also work perfectly for holidays away from home, as in Gabby’s case. Gabby would also like to emphasise that Trampers aren’t solely for the elderly. Young people like herself are always looking for activities they can access, perhaps for a day out with friends. The Tramper vehicle itself feels ‘more like a quad bike’ and reduces the stigma around mobility aids.

Gabby feels the Trampers offer a unique opportunity for people like herself, as they are so versatile, with the chance to visit such a variety of locations – she believes you can make your trip ‘as exciting or as calm as you would like it to be’. The main message from Gabby though, is that it’s all about the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones. ‘Trampers give us that time together, which is what it’s all about’.

If you’d like to feature in one of our ‘Meet a Member’ profiles, we’d love to hear from you. Email your name and contact details to info@outdoormobility.org and we’ll be in touch!