No Mean Seat!

Teams of wheelchair users and able-bodied volunteers celebrated after successfully climbing to the top of one of Scotland’s best known landmarks.

Arthur’s Seat is a towering volvanic outcrop in the centre of Edinburgh.  The ‘walk’, organised by charity Capability Scotland, saw three teams of five people, each including a wheelchair user, make it to the top of the hill in under two hours.

The event is part of a new initiative run by Capability Scotland.  ‘Go Karting’ aims to provide opportunities for wheelchair users to experience the joys and challanges of the great outdoors.

Aided by some fantastic volunteers, the wheelchair users were pushed, pulled and lifted up the hill in specially adapted wheelchairs.   The climb saw the teams having to cross some rocky and challenging terrain along the way, making the achievement all the more impressive.

The wheelchair users, Eddie Moore, Alan Simpson and Richard Gilchrist are all service users from Capability Scotland’s New Trinity Centre which supports disabled people, their families and carers.

Sheer Drop

On reaching the top, Eddie Moore commented: “The first part of the climb wasn’t too bad but the further up we got, the harder it became.  Large parts were littered with jaggy and loose stones.  When we looked over the edge of Arthur’s Seat it looked a sheer drop to the bottom!”

“The climb was aided by some fantastic volunteers, who worked tirelessly to get us up there.  Had they not been there, none of it would have been possible.  It was worth all the blood, sweat and tears because the view from Arthur’s Seat, looking down on the wonderful old city of Edinburgh, is one of the best views in the world.”

After the resounding success of the climb, Capability Scotland is now planning to roll out ‘Go Karting’ to more of its clients and other wheelchair users, including ‘walks’ in the Borders, Perthshire and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.  If you’re interested or know someone who is contact Curtis Logue, Activity Coordinator, on 0131 347 1010.

Allied Mobility staff members are delighted to be involved in supporting the ‘Go Karting’ initiative.