JustBeingCP

On Tuesday the 6th of April 2021 I took ownership of a new set of wheels that I have called Aston in honour of my love for Aston Villa football club. 

This was an emotional day for me as I have had Stacey my previous set of wheels since 2014 so I feel that this upgrade is long overdue. 

There is an element on Aston that I didn’t have on Stacey and that is a function that allows me to move into the recline position if required. 

The other difference with Aston is that he will spin on the spot and this will mean that my turning circle will be a lot easier to navigate. 

Aston is a Quickie and is the Q300 model this is a wheelchair that I have never looked at having until now as I was very happy with my Puma 40.

He will support me to travel across the United Kingdom when we are allowed to do so and this is something that I am very excited for. 

It is well known that my wheelchairs do more miles each year than your average powerchair as I like to visit London to watch musicals etc.

Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic I was never in Herefordshire and you could find me travelling the country with my friends.

When I am looking to purchase a new wheelchair one of the biggest factors that I like to consider is whether the chair will be able to with stand the amount of miles that I like to do 

I strongly believe that the Quickie Q300 will be able to live up to my expectations as if it couldn’t I would have looked at other wheelchairs.

I hope that I am able to keep Aston for the next seven years or so as I love the capabilities that he has to offer me. 

Aston’s first big test will be when I am allowed to start taking him on public transport such as buses and trains as this is something that I love to do. 

When I trailed the Q300 I wasn’t able to take him on public transport as we were still living under the Stay Home – Protect The NHS – Save Lives messaging. 

I think it is fair to say that Aston is about to change the way that I can move around as he is a good mover on surfaces such as hardstanding and grass which is something that I tested during the trial. 

I do move over hard surfaces and grass quite a lot as I have to sometimes move past objects or people. 

Over the next couple of weeks/months I am intending to test him to the highest standard so that I can ensure he meets my needs.

In order to test him to the highest possible standard I will be heading out and about with Aston and taking him across the county to various locations.

I have also realised that Aston has a lot more movability around my house meaning that I am not wrecking walls etc.

I am very excited to share all of my passions with Aston as we travel around the country and explore new things. 

If I had to give a wheelchair recommendation then I would 100% recommend it as a wheelchair that somebody who is looking for their next chair should try.

Over recent months I have been approached by a number of disabled young people on social media as they were looking for wheelchair recommendations

I think that it is key that young people in wheelchairs reach out to other young people to get advice or recommendations on what wheelchair is good and which ones are bad.

The fact that I was approached by these individuals convinced me that I should write a blog outlining what I like about the Quickie Q300 wheelchair.  

It was emotional having to say my goodbyes to Stacey as she has been massive part of my life for the last seven years and has allowed me to remain independent as possible.

Stacey and I have travelled the country on trains to attend football matches and theatre shows and I know that Aston will live up to what Stacey was able to achieve.

The one piece of advice that I would give to anyone reading this blog is always do some research to find the best wheelchair for you. 

As I am very aware that not all wheelchairs will be right for all those who are in them as not all disabilities are the same. 

In my opinion it is also very important to say that you need to take the advice of a local dealer and your healthcare professionals. 

The reason why it is so important to mention this is because there may be some people out there who would just jump in to buying the first wheelchair they see without consulting the experts.

When I was looking to get Aston I approached one of my local dealers for advice and they allowed me to trial a couple of different chairs to see which one was best. 

I then spent two days trialling a couple of different chairs and the Quickie Q300 was by far the best chair that I tried. 

The process of getting my new chair was a long one however it was certainly worth the wait as I feel a lot happier in Aston.

I think there are a couple of key points that the readers should take away from my blog and they are these: 1. Consult your local healthcare professionals and dealership prior to making any decisions. 2. Always do your research and trial chairs before buying one.

The points that I have just mentioned are things that I have done prior to making any decision or purchasing a wheelchair. 

I hope that you as the reader have found this blog both very interesting and helpful as you are embarking on the journey to purchase your next set of wheels

Enjoy the experience of purchasing your next chair. 

Cam