Helen Cockbill from Devon was diagnosed with MS in 2016 and managed to remain relatively independent until 2022 when the effects of the disease started to worsen to the point where she was recently forced to retire from her job as a higher-level teaching assistant, a job she loved

“On a daily basis, the MS had started to affect my walking, sensory deprivation, eyesight, balance and hands. It also meant I was unable to walk more than 500 meters at the very most without starting to trip or suffer from foot drops hence my need for a wheelchair for any type of trip out of the house” explained Helen.

As a wheelchair user, Helen used to hate anyone pushing her in her wheelchair to the point where she very rarely left the house. Helen and her husband knew that something had to change to ensure Helen started getting out of the house again and after many hours searching for potential solutions they found Taunton-based ARB Mobility. When Helen and Andy explained their situation, Alex Boon from ARB immediately knew he had the ideal solution to help Helen regain her independence – a Power Assisted Wheelchair System (PAWS) Cruiser from Rehasense. “The PAWS Cruiser is a fantastic, powered add-on system and I knew it would be the perfect way of helping Helen live more independently and regain her confidence. Helen said that getting back to enjoying long country walks off the beaten track was one of her aims and with its larger 16” wheel I knew the Cruiser would make this possible” explained Alex.

Helen took delivery of her PAWS Cruiser in April this year and it has been life changing not just Helen but also her husband Andy and their children and grandchildren. “MS took away my life and the PAWS Cruiser has given it back. Prior to the MS, we would think nothing of going for a 12-mile country walk through woods, mud etc but that has been impossible for the last 8 years. However, what was a dream has become a reality thanks to the PAWS”. Not only is Helen now enjoying long country walks she can now pop into town, go to the shops, visit friends safely and independently. 

“The PAWS has literally changed my life and every time I go out, I get stopped by people asking about it, especially other wheelchair users as it looks so cool. It is well built, easy to use and I also love the fact that I was able to purchase it from such a great local company in ARB Mobility. Alex was amazing, nothing was too much trouble for him, and he clearly wanted to ensure I purchased the product that was right for me. I would not hesitate in recommending the Rehasense PAWS and ARB Mobility to anyone who is looking to transform their manual wheelchair into an agile trike and regain their independence” concluded Helen.

The mid-range Cruiser which Helen has, has been designed for wheelchair users looking for a power add-on to enable them to venture off standard road surfaces and onto more uneven terrain such as a forest trail. With a larger 16” wheel the Cruiser offers a smooth comfortable ride and comes with a comprehensive range of standard features including traction and cruise control. All three PAWS models are available with either a manual or automatic clamp and lift system, Tetra controls for people with reduced upper body strength and have a range of up to 25 miles on a single charge. The battery can be fully charged from empty in five hours. 

There are a total of three models available, the City, Cruiser, and Tourer all of which are available with an automatic clamping system which is not available on any other wheelchair power add-on. All PAWS models are also compatible with almost every manual wheelchair currently available and when fully charged can provide a range of up to 40km depending on terrain, user weight and model chosen. Complimenting the Cruiser is the City which has a 12” or 14” wheel and is designed primarily for use around town and the off-road Tourer which has a 20” wheel and 4” fat tyre for increased clearance and manoeuvrability.

“Hearing what a difference the PAWS Cruiser has made to Helen’s day to day independence is fantastic as it is our aim to help every wheelchair user live as independently as possible. In addition to offering the best mobility solutions, we also pride ourselves on having a first-class dealer network, so to hear such positive feedback from Helen about Alex and the team at ARB Mobility is great” commented Jordan Day, National Sales Manager. Rehasense UK Ltd.