How paddling down a river can change lives.
Ninety years on from the end of the First World War, and in many ways the world has changed out of all recognition. Yet, in others, it is depressingly all too similar. Wars and conflict have not ceased, people are being killed, and soldiers sustain injuries that change their lives in unimaginable ways. To go from being active and able-bodied to being disabled can be soul-destroying. For many, gaining meaningful access to sport and adventure opportunities is a greater challenge than the activity itself. One charity that is making a massive difference is Equal Adventure, which was founded by Suresh Paul, an industrial design graduate with over 10 years’ experience in inclusive design. Equal Adventure is committed to removing the barriers faced by disabled people wanting to participate fully in an active lifestyle. It does this by offering organisations and individuals a range of people-centred multi-disciplinary research, design development, training, and information initiatives that have been carefully designed to overcome barriers. Together with an experienced, creative, motivated and multi-award winning design team Equal Adventure has developed a range of successful and revolutionary products for a wide range of needs - both for disabled and non-disabled people alike. These products have helped level the playing field, allowing for a full and active participation by people seeking the excitement and thrill of outdoor adventure and activities.
Challenge Yukon 09, which launched at the Royal Geographical Society’s “Explore 08” weekend (Nov 21-23), has been created by EB Adventures in support of Equal Adventure. The aim of the expedition is twofold; to raise funds for Equal Adventure’s groundbreaking work (in particular their work with newly-injured veterans), and to create an experience open to all, regardless of disability. The 20 day expedition, in August 2009, will travel by canoe along Canada’s River Yukon, setting out from the city of Whitehorse and ending up in Dawson City. As part of its remit, the expedition’s team will be field testing the EA Activity Hoist Portable Lifting System which was launched by Equal Adventure to a great deal of interest at “Explore 08”. The hoist - a flexible, easily portable , modular lifting frame, designed by Equal Adventure, for use both indoors and outside – can be used not only as an aid to daily living tasks, but also to support disabled travellers in an expedition environment, further increasing the possibility of fully inclusive adventure travel. Its packed size is just 30x30x100cm, and the hoist splits into easy-to-carry sections, a manually operated winch and spreader bar, and a lifting sling, enabling it to provide flexible solutions in a variety of environments and activities.
Ed Bassett, co-founder of EB Adventures, and veteran expedition leader, was especially pleased that Challenge Yukon launched within the surroundings of the Royal Geographic Society.
“As a Fellow of the RGS it gave me great pleasure to launch Challenge Yukon during the Explore weekend. I was lucky, along with Suresh Paul, to be part of the team which put together the Coppermine Expedition in 1997, which was the first inclusive expedition to be approved by the RGS, and the first recipient of the Robert Swan Foundation Award for expeditions that include disabled people. The Royal Geographical Society has been at the forefront of enabling the meaningful inclusion of disabled people on expeditions, and its work in this area has greatly increased the number of inclusive expeditions taking place.”
As a former soldier, Ed is enthusiastic about Challenge Yukon’s potential to raise funds to enable greater and better technical support for injured soldiers, remarking,
“For anybody, the trauma of sudden disability can be horrific. For someone who has lived a life based on being fit, adventurous, and ready-for-anything, to suddenly be placed in a situation where you believe you have no option but to sit on the sidelines can be heartbreaking.” He adds, “It is our hope that this expedition will prove that is anything but the case. Having worked with Suresh before on inclusive projects, and seen at first hand what a huge difference Equal Adventure has made to people’s lives, we are really excited to be part of this new adventure.”
Challenge Yukon has already found support among several individuals and businesses, including Páramo Directional Clothing Systems, the outdoor clothing company renowned not only for the quality of their clothing, but also for their ethical ideals: in particular for their partnership with the Miquelina Foundation, with whom they established an ethical production facility in Bogotá providing training and jobs for ‘at risk’ women. Ed remarks.
“Páramo’s ideals are very similar to those of EB Adventures and Equal Adventure: to provide help, advice, and training to those who need it (via their partnership with the Miquelina Foundation), to promote ‘inclusivity for all’, and to open up the outdoors to as many people as possible. Their offer to outfit the expedition staff of Challenge Yukon is incredibly generous, and in practical terms will make a huge difference to the success of the expedition. On an expedition the clothing used can make the difference between success and failure, between a wonderful adventure and overwhelming discomfort.”
The Challenge Yukon expedition offers the opportunity to be part of a truly memorable experience while at the same time raising funds for an outstanding cause. EB Adventures are looking for 12 people, both able-bodied and disabled, to join Challenge Yukon. If you have felt held back by your disability in the past, now is the time to go for it. Full technical support and advice will be offered by Equal Adventure to ensure that each participant has the journey of a lifetime, regardless of disability.
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For further information about how to be a part of Challenge Yukon 09, or to set up an interview, please email Kirsti Ryall PA, at EB Adventures on kirstiryall@aol.com
•For more information about Equal Adventure, or to hear about Equal Adventure’s other innovative projects or UK based opportunities, including the Equal Adventure Festival at Glenmore Lodge and Cairngorm National Park from Friday 4th-5th July 2009 (an inclusive charity fundraising event on behalf of the following charities: Equal Adventure, Motivation, and 500 Miles), please contact: Tel: +44 (0)1479 861 200 Email:suresh.paul@equaladventure.org Website: www.equaladventure.org
•For details of the Royal Geographical Society's Inclusive Expeditions Unit see www.rgs.org/inclusive
•For further details of Explore - the annual expedition and fieldwork planning seminar –see www.rgs.org/explore
•For images of or more information on Páramo please contact Catherine Whitehead at Páramo Directional Clothing Systems - 01892 786447 or email marketing@paramo.co.uk. To see the whole Páramo range and more information on Páramo's unique benefits visit www.paramo.co.uk.
