The Trionic Walker seems to offer a new lease of life. Could this really be true?

Tell us a little more about yourself and what you have been doing?

I have been teaching in boarding schools all my life sharing an enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits. In 1971 I led an expedition to Iceland. In 1982 a group of 23 cycled from Miami to Ottawa, and in 1986 26 13-year-olds, including a future American ambassador, rode bicycles from Lands End to John O’Groats. In sharing my hobbies in this way, I was able to offer the young self-belief from physical challenges. 

In retirement, I was able to ride the Camino, discover New Zealand, ride in Rajasthan, Kerala, Thailand and Laos. Mind blowing experiences.

But all this ultimately came at a physical cost. At the age of 82 I developed a severe rheumatic illness and osteoporosis. It eroded the base of my spine and distorted my shape with kyphosis. I became prone to further fractures. My love of physical exercise seemed confined to the aid of a special chair.

Why did you reach out to the company Trionic?

By sheer chance I stumbled across an advertisement for Trionic in The Oldie magazine. It only occurred that one time, and I often reflect how lucky I was to have cut it out and pondered over it. Yes, it was expensive, but the Walker seemed to offer a new lease of life. Could it really be true? I knew natural walking could never return but it turned out to be the best investment I could possibly have made. It allowed me outside. I could exercise my limbs. I could restore my health. I could socialise and watch wildlife and the world around me. What a turn around the Trionic Walker proved to be. It allowed me to securely lift the base of the spine, my source of pain, and provide a secure and comfortable anchorage whenever I had to take a rest.

What have you been able to do with your Trionic that you initially did not think you could do?

Since 1998, I set up a trust helping those in need. We are all volunteers offering wide expertise. Tragically, my honorary treasurer discovered in July 2024 that he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, (MND), for which there is no cure. I had known Jonathan for 35 years and as you can imagine, desperately wanted to do something that could conceivably be of help to him, his family and friends, as we faced the rapid decline that lay ahead for him.

The confidence I had in my Trionic Walker gave me the idea of setting up a sponsored walk during the winter in the Lake District to provide a physical challenge that ironically made me healthier.

In my sponsor walk, I aimed to cover 100 miles during the winter, averaging about 2 miles a day with the help of my Trionic Walker; its pneumatic tyres can deal with uneven ground and inclement weather. 

I started on 17th October and today, now into February, I have achieved 167.3 miles. I’m hoping to reach 200 by the time I end on the 28th of February. And I have so far raised a total of including Gift Aid (not yet claimed from HMRC) of £4633. All of which is being donated to the MND Association. 

What is your next goal with your Trionic? 

Towards the end of November, a local newspaper published an account of my sponsored walk ambitions. It was read by someone who had tragically lost her husband just a week before to aggressive cancer. They were both active outdoor people and felt that exercise could help his condition so they purchased a Trionic Veloped which he had only been able to use a few times. They wished me to have it at once and use it in memory of her husband. Living in the Lake District, I’m off-road from April to November so I much hope the Veloped with its cross country sophistication will extend my range into the low hills but always in grateful memory of David. And thank you, Johan for adapting it to my needs.