Bethany has to keep moving
A new bike could help Bethany Wilson walk again, but she needs the help of the community.
A specially adapted tricycle developed in the Netherlands offers her the ability to get mobile, not just on the bike, but to build up her muscles without the help of a support worker and make her stronger for walking.
‘‘Using my muscles is the only way to prevent them being lost, and this is getting more and more difficult.’’
Wilson, 20, was diagnosed with the genetic condition Friedreichs Ataxia when she was 7. It is a disease that progressively damages the nervous system, making it increasingly difficult to move.
Wilson is in her third year of a mathematics degree at Massey University. As a first year, she could walk leaning on a support worker, but now she needs a walking frame, as well as the support worker. She walks for an hour every day she can, but can’t do it unless help is available.
Keeping her muscles moving can slow the progress of her condition. So, Wilson was searching for ideas to help when a bicycle expert showed her the Berkelbike, and organised for her to be loaned one as a trial.
Wilson has had it since Friday, and has already scraped an elbow testing out its speed – ‘‘pretty fast’’, she grins.
‘‘It’s really good. It’s so good for my muscles, and it’s also really cool because I can go places.’’
She hopes to buy a similar bike. The bike is designed to give her a full body workout, and it has a braces and straps to hold her in place.
Wilson can get into it herself, which means she can get out for exercise whenever it suits her.
She already has sore muscles from using it, but is rapt this means she is making progress, and is determined to build up her fitness.
Wilson’s goal is to raise $11,380, which would cover shipping and a version of the bike where her wheelchair clips into it to become the back wheels and seat. This would mean she could ride into town, then use the wheelchair on its own when going into buildings.
Community Connections support worker Marleen Verhoeckx has been assisting Wilson for a year, and they have become good friends. ‘‘She’s facing a lot, but she never let’s it get her down and she makes the best of it.’’ The Givealittle page is called Bike for Bethany.
‘‘Using my muscles is the only way to prevent them being lost, and this is getting more and more difficult.’’ Bethany Wilson