Retired soldier revels in coastal freedom with Genny powerchair from Recare 

Originally from Somerset, Richard and his wife Lynne relocated to the northeast coast of Scotland in 2014. Richard served in the British Army for several years, in the parachute regiment, light infantry, and, finally, specialising in jungle warfare. He was medically retired after a knee injury. Today, Richard enhances his independence and mobility thanks to his Ottobock Genny powerchair. However, he continued serving his country for 10 years as an Admiralty civil servant.

Richard went on to develop kidney cancer. Therefore, he eventually had to stop work and reframe his life – focusing on health and well-being. The combination of injuries sustained in the Armed Forces and his more recent illness started to impact his ability to walk. As a result, the positive benefits of moving to an idyllic location rapidly dwindled. For Richard and Lynn, finding a solution like the Ottobock Genny powerchair brought new hope for mobility. So they began looking online and reached out to Help for Heroes. The charity and assistive product specialist Recare worked together to find the answer – the Ottobock Genny powerchair.

The Genny, manufactured by Ottobock, is a two-wheel, powered wheelchair that incorporates state-of-the-art self-balancing technology. Its design, looks, and functionality really appealed to Richard. So he investigated further as he began his story: "I did a lot of research on outdoor powered wheelchairs, and the Genny ticked all the boxes for me. I get support from Help for Heroes, so when one of their nurses came to see me, we discussed the possibility of applying for financial help through their Veterans' Mobility Fund. An occupational therapist checked that I met the criteria, and so we contacted Recare as one of the charity's preferred suppliers. Recare were brilliant from the start and were the first dealer to come back to us."

Ottobock Genny powerchair has been a life-changer

Richard continues: "The Genny simply means I can get out more, especially to walk my Canine Partner Ace. You see where we live – it's so scenic; you move here to be outside, not inside. My enjoyment of nature has been greatly improved, and I owe much of this to the Ottobock Genny powerchair. I can also go out to shows and concerts, and I'm not just staying at home all the time."

People engage with me, not my disability

"The Ottobock Genny powerchair is a tremendous machine; it doesn't hesitate at all going down tracks. It's not just its ability to go off road, it's the comfort level that's the best. I've got joint and back problems but don't feel any of the bumps; it’s so gentle and smooth. I've learnt to drive it quite quickly really. It's very intuitive and smart, it's easy to control and learns from you. People are so positive towards my powerchair. They say ' Wow, what is it?' and they engage with me more, not just focusing on my disability and being in a wheelchair."

The Genny has also made a massive difference to Lynne as she explains: "Previously, without the Genny, if we went in the car together, Richard would stay in the car as I'd go into places on my own and then we would just go back home. Whereas now with the wheelchair, he can do as much as I; we are not restricted. Richard's mental health and well-being are definitely so much better. Sometimes people feel that getting a wheelchair is like giving up, whereas it's the exact opposite; it opens up a new world. I think there may be misconceptions out there about mobility aids like the Ottobock Genny powerchair."

"We used to go to a lovely local park but it was such hard work pushing Richard in a manual wheelchair, especially on tracks and over chipping. In the end Richard would just sit in the coffee shop and wait for us to come back. That was not spending time together. Now it is all different and Ace is excited about the change too."

In terms of support received from Recare, Richard and Lynn are equally impressed. Richard adds, "I don't say this lightly; the service we have experienced from Recare is above and beyond. I understand they are a family-run business, and it felt like you were talking to someone you knew. MD Richard Holland-Oakes was not a salesman; there was no pitch, and he was very honest about what would be best for me. When I looked at the list of companies, I thought, 'Oh no, how are we going to get a wheelchair from them as they're so far away in England?' Nevertheless, the Ottobock Genny powerchair arrived quickly, and with Recare, there was no issue travelling up to see us and delivering it to our door."

As Richard looks to the future, he continues to plan to venture further afield. "I'm already looking into tackling the Great Glen Way from Inverness to Fort William. I've joined lots of disability rambling groups on Facebook. We will be getting back to exploring Scotland and my love of wildlife photography. Plus, I can now get back on the pitch to continue coaching the local cricket team, as I used to play disabled cricket back in Somerset. Thanks to the Ottobock Genny powerchair, Richard finishes by saying:

"My Genny looks so cool and is not ugly like many other products but also gets the job done. It makes me feel normal and I can do so much more. I'll tell you what, it's been a life changer."