Water Tank in Place

Richard and I had another jaunt to OEC today, we were asked not to go too early as the boys had been away at the Landrover show in Billing all weekend and had a bit of tidying to do before we would be able to get to the vehicle. Paul was again on hand to advise of the new additions to the Landy (Paula), the frame for the Azalai is in the process of being mounted, the water tanks are in situ as is the pipework which takes the warm water from the engine’s cooling system and around the water tanks to ensure the water stays above freezing. Once the frame has been fixed it will be possible to attach the Pod, I certainly look forward to taking that picture!

Uprated Front Nearside Spring (polybags to follow)

The uprated front suspension springs are in and the back ones will be fitted next – once there’s room on the ramp in the workshop! The suspension airbags will be going in soon too of course.

A couple of weeks ago we ordered the new front seats from Exmoor Trim, these being the very excellent Defender Elite Seats in Outlast trim. We were advised that we needed to get cracking with the order as there was likely to be a 4-5 week lead time on these, however these have arrived and can now be fitted – once in we can contact GM Coachworks to look at the hand controls/left foot accelerator options.

Exmoor Trim Defender Elite

The Pod is coming along nicely, the toilet is in along with the cupboard and the shelving behind. The bench seats are all finished as are  the load bearing supports for the upper and lower bunks. The hobs and blower lid have arrived although not fitted yet – they look very neat. The seats for the benches were not at OEC (they are finished but take up alot of room and so are being stored elsewhere) so it will still be a surprise regarding the colour/pattern, hopefully will hide the dirt and dust nicely.

Galley Area (Wallas hob not yet in)

Toilet and Shower

Paul with the Wallas Hob

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, GM Coachworks, OEC, Rachie, Specification, Vehicle

“The other children include me now. I can easily visit my friends and get to school. My wheelchair can cope with the rough ground here. It's good to have a chair that fits me, an adult's wheelchair would be too difficult to push.”

As well as staying in touch with the vehicle build, we have been very busy behind the scenes as we plan our fundraising strategy. We are drafting brochures, letters and press releases. These will soon be ready to inflict on the public domain. (I’ll be incorporating a downloads page into the site imminently.)

As well as taking a fair bit of time (the usual ‘whatever you estimate, times two and add a bit’), this work has been quite cathartic for me. In attempting to get quite a lot into very little space, I’ve had to think long and hard about what it is exactly, that we are trying to achieve as part of the whole exercise. I’m quite sure that I don’t have all of the answer yet – and I am sure it will be multi-faceted and complex even if we do get there – but it has become quite clear that the chance to raise awareness and funds for Motivation has become something of a personal and passionate cause.

I think this is because I have finally acknowledged that without the formal support (health and social care, the RFU Injured Players Fund, Anti-discrim’ legislation, accessible built environments  etc) and informal support (friends, family and other well-wishers) that I have enjoyed since my accident way back in ’86 – my life would probably have ended rather prematurely (or at the very least been a bit shit). Further, I’ve accepted that in this respect, complacency in the virtue of birth and geography is not a sustainable cognition. I have lived with a dissonance caused by ignoring the obvious and inconvenient truth, that for many disabled people in developing countries,  life doesn’t work out as rosy as it did for me.

To that end please take some time to download the linked file regarding Motivations 20th Anniversary campaign ‘Wheels Out of Poverty’ . The target is to raise £500,000 over the next 18 months to help 5,000 people across Africa – many of the projects are in countries that we will be traversing.

“Soon Motivation will celebrate its 20 year anniversary. They have come a long way and, with their wheelchair and empowerment projects, are reaching more people than ever. Wheels out of Poverty will help 5,000 people enjoy happy, healthy and productive lives – away from poverty. £500,000  over 18 months is the target to achieve this.

• It costs just £120 to provide a wheelchair
• £5,000 can buy tools and materials to set up a wheelchair workshop
• £10,000 enables us to establish a wheelchair service and train staff
• and technicians to prescribe, build and fit wheelchairs
• £25,000 could support a network of wheelchair services throughout Africa

There are thousands more children and adults denied the life changing benefits of a good wheelchair. Early intervention is so important, please help before it’s too late for another young person.”

Click this link to get to a download page –  Motivation’s 20th anniversary campaign is especially relevant to the Indlovu trans-Africa drive

Go on, it’s a quick read and very informative – did I mention we have a just giving page on the site too now?…….

Tags: biography, Charity, disability, Ethics, funding, Info, motivation, O.T., philosophy, reading, Sponsorship, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

OK, been living with both bits of kit for a short while now and time for an update. The fine weather has meant a fair few miles have been pounded over the last couple of weeks. they are both fantastic and built with real care and devotion by their respective manufacturers, but only one can go on the trip…

Trekinetic:

Good:

• Built and designed for off-piste, with top-end materials and parts
• Will climb steep(er) gradients on unmade and grassy surfaces (push on the tyres – direct 1:1 gearing in effect acting on two wheel drive)
• Will descend hills under control – but caution recommended and moderation of speed (in my experience)
• Will negotiate high(er) kerbs and obstacles
• Stable
• Comfy
• Ergonomic propulsion
• Excellent traction and control over centre of gravity
• Braces the pelvis so a good platform from which to do stuff
• Maximises independence – even off road
• Good support from www.trekinetic.com (inc shipping spares, worldwide at short notice)

Not quite so good

• Harder on clothes
• Harder on shoulders (especially the one I dislocated in a handcycle crash a couple of years ago) and tougher on hands
• Eats pushing gloves (two pairs of Global Leather’s a month)
• Can be (more) difficult for an assistant to push due to the single, central, trailing, ‘tail-wheel’ castor
• We have found the brakes to be somewhat high-maintenance (Although to be fair Mike Spindle of Trekineticfitted some mod’s and improvements for free recently, and we have had no problems since)
• The side guards are fiddly (but equally in the ‘lean’ (non-cambered) setting they are not actually needed)

Shimano 8 Handcycle from Team Hybrid:

Good:

• Built and designed for dressed surfaces and some terrain (eg grassland), with top-end materials and parts
• Will descend hills quickly (actually fast) under control
• Will negotiate some kerbs and obstacles
• Fast(er much) on level ground and downhill
• Stable
• Comfy
• Ergonomic propulsion (more so than wheelchairs, including the trekinetic)
• Easy on the joints
• Seems to involve more muscle groups
• Is a great exercise machine on the right circuit (I have found a five mile lap which follows sensible coastal gradients, with enough to puff, but still maintain traction)
• Will cover long(er) distances – Importantly though, subject to gradient (see below)
• Easy to dock/undock
• Easy on clothes and gloves (just needs some care to avoid getting chain grease onto clothes when docking)
• Smaller component parts (at least easier to stow)
• Mechanically simple
• Utilises a ‘standard’ fixed frame wheelchair (which gives 2:4:1 benefit)
• Good support from www.teamhybrid.co.uk (inc shipping spares, worldwide at short notice)

Not quite so good

• There is no getting away from the fact that front-wheel driven handcycles (especially the clip-on variety) struggle to maintain drive-wheel traction of the uphill. (Team Hybrid will tell you this for free – so I’m not breaking any news here)
• This is a problem when a gradient is combined with (an uphill exaggerating) obstacle e.g. ramped kerb – which can make progress difficult or impossible (after a point)
• In order to progress, the assistance of another is required (although this should be easier than assisting with both the trekinetic and an uncoupled ‘standard’ chair)

Conclusion at this point in time (if that’s not an oxymoron)

To be fair, the Cyclone Wheelchair to which the handcycle is attached, does not have ‘amputee axles’ (which put the drive wheels beyond the rear of the seat therefore moving the centre of gravity forward to the drive wheel). A different chair might mean that the limitations are improved – which is crucial I’m afraid. As it stands (with the Cyclone chair) – the Trekinetic takes it and is currently booked for the African trip. I would love to try the Team Hybrid with a more bespoke chair, but realistically our finances are entirely focussed on the expedition – so unless someone knows of a chair that might be more suited – the Team Hybrid will not be coming.

That said, I can see that it will be an option of choice for more urban excursions though – as with regards to range, speed , overall ergonomics and practicality I absolutely love it.

Richard on the Team Hybrid Shimano 8

Addendum:

Time to reflect on how lucky I am that I actually am having this dilemma….

The need for Motivation’s work is apparent in every part of the world. It is very difficult to obtain quantifiable statistics but the following have been publicised:

Many of the above statistics are dramatically increased in areas of current or recent armed conflict, which continue to plague the world.

A huge demand is being placed at Motivation’s door. However, following our vision and looking into the future, the ultimate goal is to reach a point where there is no longer a need for Motivation to exist as we have helped local partners throughout the world to build their capacity to a point where they can independently meet the needs of their local communities.

The Indlovu Drive are proud to support www.motivation.org.uk

Tags: biography, Charity, disability, Ethics, funding, Gear, motivation, O.T., philosophy, Weight, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

Sorry if you haven’t been able to get in today – it was due to a faulty wordpress plug-in. Now deleted.

RicH

Trine and Russ

As I briefly mentioned a few posts ago, we have started a ‘Logistics and Fundraising committee’. We have realised that in order to make the trip happen in the time-frame that we are planning, we need some help from others. Quite simply there are not enough hours in the day to accommodate all of the work that needs to be done, and more importantly two people alone do not have grey matter enough to think of all that can be thought.

Luckily we are blessed with the best  friends. It used to said, in the Land of my Fathers, that if you needed a prop [forward], just whistle down the mines and you’ll find plenty. Well metaphorically speaking, our scrum was deficient, so we whistled, and out of the woodwork we have recruited:

• Russ Baker – Logistics and support
• Trine Baker – Secretariat
• Dan Tisdall – Fundraising and Events
• Zoe Powell – PR and marketing
• Drew Powell – Logistics and support
• Paul ‘Swiss Toni’ Bettesworth – Fundraising and Events
• Penny Jones – Events
• John Jones – Events
• Rachel – formally nominated as Treasurer

Zoe

Others too have said that they will assist, and we will be tapping them for sure, and mentioning them in dispatches in due course. These guys all bring much to the table. The roles as allocated reflect their skills, but they are by no means restrictive as our small team will inevitably have to retain some flexibility in order to succeed.

The email to the chaps read along the lines of:

“……. we were originally hoping to self-support [the trip as purchase as well as the vehicle and equipment costs]  - but realistically if we are to stick to the May 2011 schedule, then quite simply we need the help of others.

That’s where you guys come in. Everyone is telling us that we can get sponsorship, but it is not an insignificant amount to raise. I make no bones about the fact that I am a bit of a numpty when it comes to the business world with its movers and shakers, pressing of the flesh and corporate golf days - and you guys all have pedigree in that arena – so we are now looking to you to provide ideas, footwork and plain old grunt in order to make this project happen.

There is probably nothing in it for you, other than realising what we can do if we pull together. But after all, part of the journey is not being entirely sure where we will eventually end up. We will probably put you on our Christmas card list too. I have attached some guidance from the Royal Geographical Society that is worth considering ahead of our meeting.

Richard

If this wasn’t a difficult enough target, I have approached a charity with a view to their piggy-backing the expedition. I have made it clear to them that we need to raise enough money to make the trip happen in the first instance; but those of you that know me will understand that I will not readily undertake such a trip without giving something back (a legacy in kind if you like). Please take some time to read the wealth of content on Motivation’s website – particularly the Africa details and the morbidity stats found in the FAQ section. I think you’ll agree that there is a real congruence here.

The project deadlines are tight, and we should at least be able to answer these prime questions at this stage, ‘Is the target feasible?’ and ‘Can we achieve it? (‘Do we have the right people?’)’. If we agree that it is and that we can, we then pretty quickly need to draft an action plan.

Rachel and Trine

I can quite appreciate that we are unlikely ever to be free at the same time, and that we all have other, unavoidable commitments (we’d all be leading boring lives if we didn’t). Of course Rachel and I will make ourselves available to meet anyone ad-hoc, as needed, in order to enjoy the expertise so generously made available to us. That said, I believe that we need to maintain a series of planned meetings in order to coordinate the agenda and pace. (Otherwise there is a risk that he project will irretrievably drift). Please do feel free to commit to no more than you can actually take -on too! (Even if that includes being unable to commit to a year long programme at this time) The last thing we want is for anyone not to enjoy taking part in this endeavour. From the start we need to be open with each other if we are to succeed.

Our sincerest thanks in advance

Richard & Rachel x”

Anyway, tonight we met (with a few apologies) and got the ball rolling. As you can see we formally adopted www.motivation.org.uk as our chosen charity. Motivation is an international disability and development charity working in low-income countries to enhance the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities. I’ll be writing a bit more on this fantastic organisation in a discreet post – it also deserves a few pages of its own on our site too – so please do check back for those – but in the meantime visit their own pages….

The Worldmade Rough Terrain A three wheel active wheelchair with a large rubber castor wheel and long wheelbase which allows for safe and stable propulsion over uneven ground.

We will post details of our fundraising enterprises on the site and in the blog as well as any other media that we can use. I think that the hard work has just begun. Personally I am thrilled that Motivation have agreed to let us support them.

We also agreed a Project name ” the Indlovu Drive”

NEW Logo Launched for the ‘Indlovu 2011′ Expedition – The wheel links with www.motivation.org.uk, who you now know we are supporting on this trip.

The Indlovu Drive logo

Why the Bull and Cow Elephants?  The Carruthers Guide to ‘The Wildlife of Southern Africa’ says of Loxodonta Africana (Indlovu Zulu) “….Rough grey skin, often coloured by dust or mud.. Complex social life. Drinks daily if possible.” ‘Nuff said – if you Overland you’ll understand.

Isilwane, The Animal Tales and Fables of Africa

by: Credo Mutwa

“Reincarnation of Murdered Gods

African people regard the elephant with a very deep reverence. It is an animal believed to be more than just a beast – it is considered a spiritual entity. The Zulu, Tswana and Tsonga names for the elephant all mean “the forceful one,” “the unstoppable one.” In Zulu the name for elephant is Indlovu, from the verb dlovu, which means, “to crash through,” “to pierce savagely,” to ”act with extreme brute force.”

Russ, you were right, we’ve had our first meeting and it might yet “go down in the ‘anals of history’!

Thanks one and all – from both Rachel and I – you lovely, lovely people. x

Tags: biography, Charity, Ethics, finance, funding, money, motivation, philosophy, Sponsorship, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

Prelude from www.motivation.org.uk ‘s website. Please do read:

“Rights

“People treat me differently since I got my wheelchair and became more independent. I have a wife – my friends have a wife; I have a child – my friends have a child; I have a business – my friends have a business; we are the same, we are equal now”  Onesmo, Tanzanian wheelchair user

There is an important and fundamental difference between disability and other forms of disadvantage. Disabled people can only organise themselves to claim their rights when their practical needs, such as mobility aids, have been met. Disabled people have a right to be included in all aspects of life. In order to fight for the right to inclusion, disabled people need to live in an environment in which they are empowered.

Everywhere disabled people’s organisations are fighting for the rights of disabled people to be included in society from access to basic services, like education, to the right to influence policy and legislation. They understand that an act such as voting is next to impossible without mobility and a certain level of access.

“What we don’t want is welfare handouts; we need to be consulted when decisions are made and we do not have representatives” Henry Nyumbi, Director, Kilimanjaro Association of the Spinally Injured, Tanzania

We advocate for equal rights for disabled people. Working closely with regional and national partner organisations representing people with mobility disabilities we work with governments and development agencies to create the space to empower disabled people to participate more fully in society.”

Hand-powered trike enables long distance travel - image by www.motivation.org.uk

13/5/10

Dear Richard & Rachel
 
Many thanks for your e-mail. We are delighted to hear that you wish to select Motivation as the charitable cause for your expedition; this is much appreciated.
 
Best wishes
 
Marianne Kent
Donor Support Administrator
motivation uk

Brockley Academy, Brockley Lane, Backwell, Bristol, BS48 4AQ, UK
tel +44 (0)1275 464012   fax +44 (0)1275 464019

www.motivation.org.uk

Motivation UK is a registered charity no. 1079358 and a company limited by guarantee
Registered in England & Wales no. 3916496

Our letter to www.motivation.org.uk asking whether they would let us support them. It’s a long-ish letter  (in terms of blog posting!) but I hope it would help to illustrate why we have adopted www.motivation.co.uk as something the Indlovu Drive can really support (and in mulling things over, since www.motivation.org.uk agreed, I have become even more convinced that this is a great synergy). Motivation have also since writen a longer, more illustrative hard-copy letter than the email response reproduced above, formally agreeing that we can support them as part of the Indlovu Drive.

10/5/10

“Dear All at Motivation,

 I am writing to you to tentatively explore a possible fundraising avenue.

 My wife and I are planning an Overland Africa expedition for 2011/12. I myself sustained a SCI [Spinal Cord Injury] at C5/6 in 1986 (due to being clumsy at rugby). Consequently in planning this trip, a significant amount of our expense and logistical consideration to date has necessarily been focused on resolving care, access and mobility challenges. (To that end we have planned and purchased an Azalai 130 Land Rover conversion – which is currently under construction.) I can walk short distances with elbow crutches but use a combination of chairs/handcycles/scooter dependent on the task and terrain in hand. My blog illustrates my personal quandary  of ‘getting the solution right’ for successful wheelchair mobility away from a [western] built environment (I am deliberating whether to take my Trekinetic or my Clip on (Team Hybrid) Handcycle – and the jury is still out, but the question remains an ongoing blog theme). In 1993 I qualified as an Occupational Therapist, and have prescribed a few NHS wheelchairs in my time (although recently any wheelchair purchasing has all been just for me as I have moved away from fieldwork of late, although I have maintained my registration). We have flown many times to South Africa, but now it is our intent to ship out and then drive(ish) from RSA, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt – Europe, UK. over approximately eight months. We will be taking career breaks from the NHS.

 The project has reached a stage where we are just about to expand our fundraising efforts in earnest, and we have an inaugural meeting of the Fundraising and Logistics Committee planned for next week. Our primary target will be to raise enough funds to make the trip happen (£25-30k on top of the £80k+ that we have already committed ourselves) – but you would glean from my blog that I feel it is immoral to make such a trip and not give something back to Africa in return (at the risk of sounding cliched).

 In essence, [based on careful consideration of the comprehensive information on your website and that in linked sites] Motivation aligns very well with my history, life experience and values. We would like to use the trip to fundraise for the charity once our primary target has been reached. I am aware and have written about the paradox of expedition costs vs. subsequent fundraising for charity – but I honestly hope that there would be mutual benefit.

 Notably:

• Motivation is a mature and proven organisation
• Motivation’s approach is pragmatic
• Motivation’s approach is ethical
• Motivation’s approach is evidence based
• Motivation have embedded education into their business at every level
• Motivation is ‘pan Africa’ (and indeed Inter Continental) and there is much development work happening in Africa
• Motivation works with people to enable them to develop their own sustainable projects
• Motivation have a positive approach to disabled people and strive to realise potential in all
• Motivation provide clear, accessible and precise facts regarding their area of work

Further:

• Motivation UK are (as we are) South West based

My spinal injury history has a congruence that I would hope would give us a USP that is more ‘marketable’ when compared with similar expeditions.

We feel we can engender media publicity as a consequence of these alignments

I can (with professional integrity) talk to:

•  Motivation’s vision is of a world that promotes everyone’s right to mobility and inclusion
• Motivation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities

We have considered many organisations in the months of planning to date, and there have been several that it would be ‘nice’ to support. However, your work really does it for me. In all honesty this is something that I personally could not just support; rather it is something that might actually become somewhat vocational. (A long winded way of saying I am really impressed.)

 So to that end, would you consider allowing us to adopt Motivation as a Charitable Cause for our venture? If so I will advise our Fundraising and Logistics committee accordingly. (Some have argued that our trip is cause enough on its own – I disagree as there is no tangible legacy, attributable to Africa as things stand.)

 In particular we would be grateful if [based on your experience] you have any thoughts on how to be clear with potential sponsors, that X goes to the Expedition and Y goes to Motivation (IE How to not use your name in vain – We need the trip to be viable in order to in turn support Motivation).

 I also see that you can do talks to arranged audiences/schools. We have one school signed-up (well technically one school’s housemaster) – but we need to manage the subsequent Expedition/Charity split there too. Additionally we will be arranging a few ‘Dinner/Soiree’ type events in the coming months as well. (As I said though, I am sure I can present relevant information with a degree of credibility at any such events, should it not be possible to send a speaker)

 If we do not achieve our Expedition target in time for 2011/12, we will defer to 2012/13 but it is our sincere aim to go for May 2011.

 Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Of course please do contact us if you require any more information at this time, if anything is not clear, or if you should have any other questions.

 Yours sincerely

 Richard (and Rachel) Harris

www.harris.gb.net”

Tags: Charity, disability, Ethics, finance, funding, motivation, O.T., philosophy, Sponsorship, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

BBC Podcast. Africa Today: African news and analysis from the BBC’s Focus on Africa and Network Africa programmes; the Africa Today podcast contains the day’s top stories from the continent – available to download Monday to Friday from 1630 GMT.

Tags: Africa, Info, Resources