Walk yourself amazing
Debbie North loved climbing hills in the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales. But after a shock diagnosis in 2008 everything changed – except her love of climbing hills in the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales...
IN 2008, I was diagnosed with spinal degeneration. Quicker than could have imagined, I became a wheelchair-user. I thought my love affair with the hills and mountains was over. It hit me hard. My husband Andy stopped walking as well, saying he couldn’t go without his ‘walking partner.’ But then I heard about all-terrain wheelchairs. I was amazed to learn about the different types. And not long after, once more I was back out ‘walking’ and even climbing to the top of mountains again. It felt amazing.
I have three different types of wheelchair and I call them my shoes.
My manual wheelchair is my flat, comfortable everyday shoes that I use day in, day out. I also have a power wheelchair attachment which clips to the front of the frame and in essence converts my wheelchair into a threewheeled electric bike. This I call my pair of trainers – perfect for when I fancy a run out and a bit of speed. Finally, I have my four season hiking boots – my all terrain 4x4 TerrainHopper, which I’ve named Harriet. With it Andy and I completed our version of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, I’ve climbed several Wainwrights in the Lake District, a couple of Scottish Munros and
I’m currently working my way through the Dales 30 in the Yorkshire Dales, to find which have a route to the summit that is stile-free.
For the past five years I’ve been working with Julia Bradbury.
I’m responsible for my own section on her website called Access The Outdoor Guide, where we have over 100 wheelchair friendly walks. I travel all over the UK filming stile-free walks now, writing and speaking. I love it. I have never looked back. Last year I was made a #GetOutside Ordnance Survey
Champion too, and. I’m also a volunteer ‘Miles without Stiles’ tester for the Yorkshire Dales National Park. I am passionate about creating a countryside for all and slowly but surely we are making a difference.
During lockdown there are times when the motivation is lacking. Especially during the winter months when the weather has been terrible. It’s challenging to stay positive. That’s why I decided that from the 1st of January I was going to do #walk1000miles. I’m planning to do most of my 1000 miles in my manual wheelchair. That will really help with my fitness and well-being.
So far I have competed 140 miles. I’m up to averaging about three miles a day, which isn’t especially easy where I live – on the side of a hill! When the weather is too bad, I use a rollator, which is like a treadmill for wheelchairs. Though
I can get the miles under my belt, it’s no substitute for being outdoors.
I will confess, for some of the challenge I’ll be using my powered wheelchair. But I don’t see it as cheating, I see it as means to getting outdoors and having an adventure. I’m so looking forward to the coming months and going further afield to exploring new walks that I can do in my manual wheelchair. Hopefully I will be much stronger too from my daily workout and will be able to push myself to completing 3-4 miles a day.
It’s not too late to join #walk1000miles! I urge everyone, whatever your ability, to get outside and enjoy a walk.
Get out into your garden, enjoy a walk around the town,