Sophie Hodges

We bought the Kiddy Viper for my daughter in July of last year and within the first week of ownership Sophie managed to successfully steer it into a gate post destroying the throttle switch. After a short phone call you very kindly shipped a replacement part out to us in South Wales.
Since then the Viper has proved very useful and has transformed her life allowing her to go to places that she would not be able to push herself, even to  places that we would not be able to push her.

Please find attached some photos taken whilst we have been out and about over the last year. I hope they help to show just how versatile the Kiddy Vipers really are.

Many thanks

Jason Hodges.

 

JAMIE ADAMS IN PORTUGAL

MY NAME IS JAMIE ADAMS AND I AM 12 YEARS OLD.

I WAS ON HOLIDAY IN PORTUGAL IN NOVEMBER 2008. I HAVE REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME. (RPS IS WHERE YOU HAVE A PAST INJURY COME BACK WHILE HAVING GROWING PAINS.) WHICH MEANS I CANNOT WALK WITHOUT CRUTCHES AND PAIN.

I WAS VERY KINDLY LENT A WHEELCHAIR AND VIPER BY DAVID PLAYER. THE VIPER IS ATTACHED TO A WHEELCHAIR AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT OF A BIKE BUT IS MOTORISED. IT HAS A BRAKE AND AN ACCELERATOR WHICH ALLOWS THE WHEELCHAIR TO BE MOTORISED AND DRIVEN LIKE A MOTORBIKE.THE VIPER IS POWERED BY A BATTERY WHICH IS EASILY CHARGED FROM THE MAINS INSIDE A HOUSE. THE BATTERY NEVER RAN OUT AND SEEMED TO LAST A LONG TIME.

WHISLT IN PORTUGAL THE VIPER ALLOWED ME TO DO A LOT MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITHOUT IT. I WENT TO SILVES, WHICH IS A TOWN WITH MANY HILLS AND A CASTLE. I WENT TO QUARTEIRA, ALONG THE SEA FRONT MUCH FURTHER THAN I COULD HAVE WALKED WITH THE CRUTCHES. I ALSO WENT TO FARO THE MAIN CITY IN THE ALGARVE, WE WENT TO THE MAIN SHOPPING CENTRE JUMBO.

MOST IMPORTANTLY IT WAS FUN TO USE AND IT ALLOWED ME TO MOVE EASILY AROUND VALE DO LOBO THE RESORT I WAS STAYING IN. VALE DO LOBO HAS MANY HILLS AND WITHOUT THE VIPER I WOULD NOT HAVE MANAGED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE VILLA.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DAVID PLAYER FOR ALL HIS HELP AND WOULD RECOMMEND THE VIPER TO ANYBODY WHO HAS PROBLEMS WALKING. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME IN THE VIPER WITH A PUPPY I MET.
Emma Rooney

My name is Emma Rooney and I am 6 years old. I have Spina Bifida and Hydrocaefalus. I have never been able to get a bike because it was not possible to get one suitable for my needs until now. Another little boy I know with Spina Bifida had a Viper trike, he let me test it out to see if it was suitable for me, it was.

My dad (Gerard) contacted Team Hybrid, they were very helpful. During the original telephone call my dad discussed my specific needs with Mark Higgon who could not be more helpful. Mark asked my dad for different measurements of myself ie, height, weight, leg length etc. If we had any questions or problems all we had to do was phone and it was sorted out.

Through keeping in regular contact with Team Hybrid during the time the Viper was being made we managed to complete a very successful operation. When my Viper arrived it was ideal for me. I am totally delighted and I am out and about all the time now.

I cannot thank Team Hybrid enough for getting me mobile and out playing with my friends on their bikes.

Thank you very much.

Emma, Julie Gerard, Rooney.

Harry takes his Viper everywhere

Since 4 year old Harry Stratton received his he has taken it everywhere. His mum Anna said. “It has opened up a whole new world for him and is now able to do things that have not been possible before. He has chased dogs in a country park while flying a kite, and even went off road around Loch Lomond going right up to the pebbled shores. He loves the freedom it has given him and would be lost without it.”

Harry’s Viper is capable of very fine control and has a top speed of 2.5 mph, and because his hands are so small a bespoke handle bar was made to enable him to brake. When indoors the Viper detaches in seconds leaving him sitting in his wheelchair as normal.

Harry who has Spina Bifida is only 4 years old and his little hands were to small to operate the brakes so a set of Tetra Bars were made up allowing Harry to stop safely using arm action. “I love my power cycle because I can go up the hill at my house to play with my friends, said Harry, I have also been across the grassy bits at Drumpellier Park which is near my house,for the first time all by myself and I was chasing a dog and everyone laughed”

 
Anna Strattons Testimony

We found out about the Mobility Roadshow in Edinburgh completely by accident and decided to go along on the off chance there would be something suitable for our son Harry who is four and a half and has Spina Bifida.  We had been considering some form of electric wheelchair or scooter for him to use when he was out playing in our estate.  Our estate is quite hilly and there is absolutely no way he could push himself up the hills to his friend’s houses – even a wheelchair athlete would struggle with the hills.

When we arrived at the showground we saw a young man get into a chair, which can be best described as a wheelchair that could turn into a tricycle with the help of a front attachment that was powered by a battery.  When we saw this we immediately thought that it would be absolutely ideal for Harry. We had a good look around the show and found several companies that made something similar to what we had seen the young man in when we had arrived.  We left details with these other companies and they promised to get in touch with us the following week.  We are still waiting.

Then we found Team Hybrids stand and we are very glad that we did.  They had a Viper power cycle in a Childs size, which meant that Harry could test-drive it. He drove it for about 30 minutes and loved every second of it.  He could outrun the pair of us and was having great fun playing on grass for a change. Mark and Rob took a detour on their way home from exhibiting at the show and came to our house to let Harry test-drive the Viper again up and down the estate - he still loved it

On the off chance we asked Mark if he knew of anybody that would possibly help us with the cost of the Viper and chair, he said to “leave it with me and i will ask around”. The following day Mark phoned to say that there was an organisation called Moontrekers that were willing to fund half of the cost.

Moontrekers are a local fundraisers who donate money to help with the cost of buying all sorts of equipment for people with all kinds of disabilitys and all ages. So, we started the ball rolling and asked Team Hybrid if they could come up with a design that would suit a 4 year old. We batted emails and phone calls with Mark deciding on the main features of the Viper, it presented many challenges but these were quickly over taken.

We took delivery of the Viper on a sunny day and Harry took to it again very quickly The controls that had been fitted were amazing, because Harrys hands are so small he can not operate a conventional brake lever, so Mark had fitted his own design Quad bars, these allow the brakes to be operated with just a simple pushing movement.

Since Harry received his Viper power cycle he has taken it everywhere. It has opened up a whole new world for him and is now able to do things that have not been possible before. He has chased dogs in a country park while flying a kite, and even went off road around Loch Lomond going right up to the pebbled shores. He loves the freedom it has given him and would be lost without it. The Viper is capable of very fine control and has a top speed of 2.5 mph, we are teaching Harry to go slow when required and plan his routes around obstacles.  However, like all kids he knows better and it is full pelt all the time.

It will be a long time yet before we let him out of our sight while he is on it … but he is only 4 after all.

Wishes for kids

A while ago now Team Hybrid were contacted by the charity Wishes For Kids. They were enquiring to see if I would build a Kiddy Viper for a girl Rachel Edwards, of course we agreed. It was to be presented to her later on in the year. It was to be kept a secret so every thing was arranged over the phone, chair size etc.

Summer arrived and on the day of the presentation we travelled to Donnington race track where the charity had arranged a race day. We had to sneak the Kiddy Viper in with out any one spotting us and hide it away from every one. There were over a 100 children and each one was given the opportunity to have rides in various racing cars.

There was a rally course, a race track and quad bikes. After dinner every one gathered in the main hall and Rachel was asked to come forward. The Viper was then wheeled out and presented to her. She was so surprised and was shaking with excitement. After giving her a quick run down on the operating procedure of the Viper we both went for a quick spin around the hall. Rachel had the hang of it in seconds and was riding as if it was second nature.

A great sense of satisfaction can be had to see the smile on the faces of the kids and adults as they have a taste of freedom for the first time in there lives.

Dear Mark

Every time I go out on my Viper with my friends or family some one has given a very nice comment about it.

Ever since I received my Viper I have been able to do tonnes more things. It’s brilliant. I have been able to explore the town without getting tired. I have been able to play with my friends and family. I have even been out to dinner on my own with my friends.

When I set off I can go all around/anywhere in the town centre. My family and friends and even strangers have said it is wicked.

It’s brilliant, Thank you.

From Rachel Edwards.