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13 November 2014

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You are in: London > London Local > Tower Hamlets > Community Life > Finding freedom through three wheels

Jamie in her wheelchair

Finding freedom through three wheels

When Jamie Lawson is in her electric wheelchair, it is hard to imagine that she is in fact a keen cyclist.

The 19-year-old has cerebral palsy which means she can't walk unaided and has limited use of her hands.

But every other Saturday, she takes part in a cycling club in Victoria Park, which aims to get both physically and mentally disabled people into the sport.

Jamie on her adapted bike

The bike gives Jamie a sense of freedom

Jamie uses a specially adapted recumbent bike 鈥 the kind where she sits down with her legs out in front of her 鈥 to get around the park.

Her legs are normally twisted, but the recumbent has larger pads fitted to the pedals so her legs can be strapped into the right position.

A high

With her legs straightened she can cycle and rely on her own body to get her moving.

She gets up a lot of speed and whizzes along - something that Jamie really enjoys.

"I like the fact that I can just get on the bike and go," she said, "And I get my legs working properly.

"I get on a bit of a high.

"It helps my body build up my muscles.鈥

Jim Blakemore, Bikeworks

The group meets in Victoria Park

Limited mobility

The group caters for a wide range of people, from those with physical disabilities, like Jamie, to people with learning difficulties.

But the aim for all of them is the same 鈥 to get fit and also do something which has a positive effect on their mental well-being.

Jim Blakemore, founder of the charity Bikeworks, which runs the group, explained how important he thinks it is.

"I've found that there's not many people offering the opportunity to get people on bikes and it鈥檚 just such a simple thing.

"If you look at someone who maybe is in a wheelchair and has very limited mobility, when you get them onto a three-wheel recumbent they can just fly around the park and it鈥檚 so empowering and gives them such a level of freedom.

Bikeworks cycling club

All abilities can join in with the club

'Not rocket science'

"To me it's such a simple thing. To allow someone to get fit, to get out and about; it's a real social event too.

Mr Blakemore also thinks that more money should be spent on getting people with disabilities into sport 鈥 especially with the Paralympics less than four years away.

He explained: "If you think about the number of people in London who have a learning or physical disability, it's going into the thousands.

"We have maybe 25 people who come to the club and that's just in Tower Hamlets. We are just scratching the surface.

"To me, it's not rocket science - Id like to see little clubs like this in every borough."

Cycling has helped Jamie's legs straighten and strengthen and it's clear to see she enjoys the exercise as well as the social aspect of the group.

last updated: 06/11/2008 at 12:44
created: 22/10/2008

You are in: London > London Local > Tower Hamlets > Community Life > Finding freedom through three wheels



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