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Trail-blazer...disability can't stop man and his scooter

Written by yorkguides.co.uk   

Alexandra Wood (Yorkshire Post)
ALAN Bailey is living proof that it doesn't take two legs to complete a long-distance walk.

The former fireman set out yesterday to do 85 miles of the Yorkshire Wolds national trail – on his disabled scooter.
With other long-distance walks under his belt, including the Hadrian's Wall Path and the Cleveland Way, Mr Bailey is on a mission to encourage other disabled people to use their scooters for more than a bit of shopping.
He can do 12 miles on the flat, and says the scooter can go anywhere a horse or a mountain bike can.
Yesterday he set off from the Humber Bridge with two spare batteries and his faithful terrier Jessie at his side on his distinctive black and yellow scooter flying the St George flag.
His scooter – with the unmistakable nameplate MAD 1 – is only two years old and has already racked up more than 5,000 miles.
Styles and kissing gates often get in the way, and Mr Bailey reckons he will only do 40 per cent of the route on the path, the rest being on roads.
All being well he will arrive at the Wolds Way monument at Filey Brigg on Saturday.
An experienced walker and ex- Royal Marine, Mr Bailey was used to long walks until he was injured when a building collapsed on him badly damaging his right leg when he was with Lancashire Fire Brigade 20 years ago.
After numerous operations and suffering from bone cancer he can only walk a few feet.
Mr Bailey, of Lower Dunsforth, York, founded the charity Disabled Charity Walks after losing his wife to lung cancer five years ago and intends completing all 14 national trails on his scooter. Ever adventurous he said that last year he was going to abseil down Scarborough lighthouse "but all the able-bodied ones dropped out".
He added: "I want to raise awareness that disabled people can use their scooters and wheelchairs to enjoy this beautiful country of ours and not just for a little shopping. With a little planning you can achieve much more.
"The scooter runs all right on grass – the only thing that stops it is snow. It can go down a one in four hill even when it is muddy but it does tend to slide as I found out on the Cleveland Way."
This year all the money Mr Bailey raises is going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
 
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