Norfolk teenager's adapted trike wish comes true
The 13 year-old can now get involved in family bike rides.
A 13 year-old from Swanton Morley has had her dream of a newly adapted trike come true, thanks to funding from a charity.
Brooke Sprawling has limited mobility due to a rare childhood disease called Ataxia-telangiecstasia.
It means she relies on a walking frame or electric wheelchair to get around.
After growing out of her old adapted trike at the age of seven she's been desperate to get back involved in family bike rides.
Thanks to funding from Children Today Charitable Trust she's been able to get her hands on a new trike.
Brooke's Mum, Justine, says the equipment has already done wonders for her little girl's mental wellbeing, and her own too.
She said the adapted trike has unlocked more opportunities for the pair to get out for much-needed exercise, socialisation, and quality time together.
Justine says: "It’s definitely given her mental health a boost. She’s always looking forward to going out on it and so am I.
“It’s just great to get out and say hello to people we pass out and about, sometimes people will comment on her trike, which is lovely.
“Brooke’s loving it, she’s so happy with it. When the guys delivered it and set it up at our home, she wanted to go out on it straight away, she was raring to go!”
Brooke doesn't let her mobility issues stop her from taking part in an active lifestyle, she also takes part in horse riding, sit skiing and swimming.
Justine adds: “It’s something different for us to do together.
"The trike works her legs and gives her a proper form of exercise. So far, it’s been absolutely brilliant.”
The Tomcat trike, which is specially adapted to fit Brooke, will enable her to not only enjoy more outdoor adventures but the movement required to pedal with her legs will help her physical rehabilitation, assisting in easing her muscles from stiffening, a common trait of her condition.
Brooke is prone to respiratory infections and certain types of cancer, due to her condition, and she’s been taking regular antibiotic medicine ever since she was a toddler.
Exercising on the trike in the fresh air helps her chest and breathing.
Justine, who gives her fortnightly immunoglobulin injections to boost her daughter’s immune system, says: “It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve been out together all three of us. Brooke’s older brother, Caleb, has been out with us on his bike a few times – he goes off ahead and she tries to catch up with him.
“The last time we were able to do that was when she had her old trike when she was seven, so that was six years ago!”
Now that Brooke has reached her teenage years, her trike is another form of independence for her and with the spring and summer months just around the corner.
The family is hopeful the trike will bring them a lot more joy and allow them to create even more happy memories together.
Brooke says: "I am so happy to be able to get out and about, especially now the weather’s getting better!”
Emma Prescott, Charity Director of Children Today, says: “It’s so wonderful to hear how much of an impact Brooke’s adapted trike has had on not just her but her loved ones too, especially during lockdown and in such a short space of time.
“Having 24/7 access to specialised equipment, like Brooke’s trike, opens up a world of new opportunities for children and young people with disabilities.
"Along with giving them much needed freedom, exercise and a sense of independence.
“We’re over the moon that this piece of equipment, which is set to last this little girl many happy years to come, has had such a positive impact on Brooke’s mental health.
"I’m certain it will enable her to feel the confidence and independence that every child deserves to experience as they enter their teenage years.
“As a small charity, which relies entirely on voluntary donations, we always welcome contributions. No matter how big or small, each donation makes a big difference to the lives of young people, like Brooke, living with disabilities across the UK. Thank you.”