Despite her disability, Debbie North won’t quit her passion, and she’s helping others get out and about, too
When Debbie North was diagnosed with chronic degeneration of the spine and confined to a wheelchair, her whole world collapsed. Not only was she forced to give up her much-loved job as a head teacher, she could no longer enjoy her lifelong passion for hill walking. Or so she thought.
After deciding she wouldn’t be beaten, Debbie, 54, started researching all-terrain wheelchairs, and is now encouraging other disability sufferers to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors through her own campaign, Access the Dales.
Working with her husband Andy, she now redesigns popular walks, navigating obstacles such as gates and stiles to make them more accessible to wheelchair users, and has raised thousands of pounds to buy all-terrain machines for others to use. She’s co-written two books about the alternative routes she has developed, and is collaborating with Country file presenter Julia Bradbury by designing wheelchair-friendly treks for her website The Outdoor Guide. Debbie also produced alternative versions of the walks featured in Julia’s TV show Best Walks With A View, providing information about wheelchair-friendly hotels, guest houses and cafes.
‘I’ve always loved walking – that feeling of getting away from it all. I need to be able to enjoy that outdoor experience,’ says Debbie, who last year completed the 81-mile Coast To Coast To Coast walk, from Semer water, in Wensleydale, to Lake Bassenthwaite, in Cumbria.
‘Sadly, accessibility usually seems to be an afterthought. I want to change that perception so it’s included from the start.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 07,2017 من WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 07,2017 من WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
10 OF THE BEST Buys for CHARITY
Look great and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October
How to HAGGLE
Save those £££s by plucking up the courage to negotiate
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Here to help
LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Good to GLOW
Plant your bulbs now for a lovely bright start to spring
Painted VASES
Prettify empty jars and bottles with this quick craft project
Escape to OXFORD
Delve into the city's rich cultural heritage for a wonderful weekend
Sail through menopause WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN!
Middle-aged spread may seem inevitable - but it really doesn't have to be
Woodland wonders
When you go down to the woods, you'll find a whole new world teeming with life
'We should all be dancing'
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox on overcoming adversity, ageing and Strictly Come Dancing