Woman with extra scooters wants one to go to beating victim

After Tricia Mills’ motorized scooter was stolen this summer, Saskatoon residents “bombarded” her with support.

Thanks to generous donations and attention drawn to her plight, the 63-year-old woman — who has struggled to get around since undergoing multiple pelvis reconstructions — went from having no scooter to having three.

She gave one to her neighbour, Robert Carignan, who made headlines last month after he was pulled from his motorized chair in downtown Saskatoon and beaten in a random attack.

She now wants to get the other chair to Prince Albert so it can be given to Marlene Bird, who lost both her legs in 2014 after she was beaten and set on fire while living on the streets.

Bird gets around in a push wheelchair or motorized scooter, but her scooter was stolen from a Timber Bay home this summer.

“My heart just felt for Marlene,” Mills said. “She relies on her wheelchair and it’s a real low person to take somebody’s wheelchair like that.”

Reached at Prince Albert’s Indian and Metis Friendship Centre this week, Bird said she misses her scooter.

“I wish I had a scooter so I could run around,” she said. “It’s not too good for me to move around.”

Bird said she does not know who would be able to transport the chair from Saskatoon to Prince Albert for her. She hopes someone who hears her story may be able to help.