Today I want to talk about the greatest gift I have ever received, my Triride.

Did you know it actually came from a crowdfunding effort? Back in the Spring of 2022 we went to Aviemore, and one of the highlights was meant to be a trip to An Lochan Uaine, the green loch.

When we reached the nearest car park it was obvious that I would not manage the route in my wheelchair because of the terrain.

Once we got home I started researching and found a device that could make that trip possible. That device was a Triride.

My family and I love getting outdoors, so the idea of something that would open up more adventures was huge. The only problem was the price. It cost £5,000, which I definitely did not have.

I decided to try crowdfunding and aimed to raise at least £3,000, planning to put the remaining £2,000 on a credit card. Two thousand pounds of debt felt better than five.

It turns out I did not need to do that in the end. Generous friends, family, workmates, my writing group and even strangers stepped in to help.

The wildest part of the whole story was two donations that came to £3,000 from an anonymous supporter. The interesting thing about donating anonymously is that the fundraiser still sees your name.

I did not recognise the name, so I looked them up and discovered they were a Saudi princess. I have no idea what inspired her to help, but I am beyond grateful, not only to her but to everyone who was kind enough to support me.

The day after I received the device, we flew out to Canada and this device allowed me the freedom to explore Calgary and Canmore, where I saw the most amazing lake, Lake Louise. That place lives in my dreams.

Since then I’ve been to Corfu, Halkidiki, Copenhagen, Paris and at least 18 cities across the UK as part of my job reviewing disabled access for Euan’s Guide, a job I wouldn’t be able to do with this device.

Earlier this year we finally made the trip to An Lochan Uaine, and it was even more beautiful than any picture could ever convey.

This really shows the power of human kindness.