We were referred to this gentleman, a double leg amputee, by an occupational therapist at Wycombe Hospital. Initially our task was to install an access ramp. While we were there, the client mentioned that he was keen on floor exercises, but needed help to move unaided from his wheelchair to the floor and back. Remap designed these steps and arm rests to enable him to do this.
A lady with multiple sclerosis (MS) was completely paralysed other than being able to use her mouth. She could operate a communication device alongside her drinking tubes, but mounting everything to her chair was cumbersome. We designed a system of swivels and joints to make the communicator and drinking tubes easier to use.
Caryl cannot move her hands or feet, except for a slight movement of a single toe. We incorporated a sensitive switch into the insole of a slipper in such a way that the switch remains in the same relative position to her foot, even when she is in bed. She can now use her toe to call for help and to activate or adjust an environment control system. Caryl has been using the switch for five years, day and night. Since she has now almost lost the ability to speak, it has become her main communication aid.
The Guardian newspaper yesterday carried a review of equipment that enabled Paralympic athletes to compete, including details on Derek Derenalagi’s discus throwing frame, designed and built by Remap South Bucks: The Guardian (‘The ingenious designs behind the Paralympic champions’, 3rd September 2012).
Derek’s Remap throwing frame also mentioned in a Daily Mail Paralympic equipment review today: Daily Mail (‘From the wheelchair based on an F1 car to the ‘Terminator’ exo-skeleton suit: How technology is transforming the Paralympics’, 4th September 2012).
Following the involvement of Remap South Bucks in building a discus throwing frame for Derek Derenalagi, Remap local panels in the West Midlands and Leicester have been helping Paralympians Richard Davies (rifle shooting SH2) and Kieran Tscherniawsky (discus throwing F33). Kieran will compete this coming Friday 7th September 2012. For further details please visit the Remap Central website.
Well done to seated discus (F57) Paralympian Derek Derenalagi, who competed this evening (Friday 31st August) using his custom made throwing frame. No medals this time, but Derek certainly made an impression! We posted links to some recent press coverage a couple of days ago. Here are a few more.
Report on Derek today, including video footage from 2010, on ITV News (‘Derek Derenalagi beats the odds to reach his dream of Paralympics 2012’, 31st August 2012).
Derek’s story in detail today in the Daily Telegraph (‘Paralympics 2012: I was pronounced dead, now I am back representing my country again, says Derek Derenalagi’, 31st August 2012).
Report on Derek and his family today on Sky News (”Dead’ Soldier Ready For Paralympic Debut’, 31st August 2012).
A student interviews Derek today on BBC News School Report (‘Paralympics 2012: Derek Derenalagi on ‘battling back’ to Paralympic stage’, 31st August 2012).
Watching people like Derek Derenalagi will be humbling, says report yesterday on the Paralympic opening ceremony in The Mirror (‘A billion people watch the Paralympics begin… and marvel at what they see’, 30th August 2012).
A brief resume on Sky Sports (‘Derek Derenalagi’s Paralympic journey has been an incredible one’, 29th August 2012).
Interview and Q&A with Derek: Thankasoldier Monthly (‘Our Interview with Pte Derek Derenalagi wounded warrior & Paralympian’, 27th August 2012).
A detailed story about Derek leads off this piece in the Sunday Telegraph (‘Paralympics 2012: from the battlefield to the sports field, meet the armed forces Paralympians’, 26th August 2012).
Derek features in BBC report on Battle Back athletes: BBC Sport (‘Paralympics 2012: Battle Back – from front line to podium’, 24th August 2012).
Video footage of Derek in training in this report from ITV (‘Game of Throws: Paralympian prepares’, 17th August 2012).
The front page of The Sun today (‘I was dead in a body bag… now I’m going for gold’, 29th August 2012) has a major news story about Paralympic discus thrower Derek Derenalagi ahead of his event on Friday. There’s a great picture that shows Derek’s throwing frame, designed and built by Remap South Bucks, quite clearly.
Other recent news coverage of Derek
David Beckham pays tribute to Derek and the Paralympic spirit in The Mirror today (‘Their guts and dedication make me proud to be British’: David Beckham writes for the Mirror about our Paralympic athletes, 29th August 2012), .
It only mentions Derek in passing, but there’s an interesting comparison of Olympic and Paralympic events by the BBC today (‘Paralympics: 10 things you need to know’, 29th August 2012).
Review of Paralympic contenders from the forces, including Derek, in the Daily Mail yesterday (‘Ready to serve their country again: Fighting fit Forces heroes gunning for Olympic glory’, 28th August 2012).
The Sunday Mirror (‘Appliance of science: How latest technology is giving our 2012 Paralympians the edge’, 26th August 2012) includes Remap’s role in building Derek’s discus frame.
Derek gets a mention in the Daily Telegraph (‘London 2012 Paralympics: On your marks for this, our final joyous lap’, 24th August 2012).
Informative article about Derek and the Paralympics in The Guardian (‘Paralympics offers life after trauma for wounded soldiers’, 23rd August 2012).
Derek’s wife Ana’s perspective in the Sunday People (‘Wife of Paralympics discus thrower who lost his legs in Afghanistan tells of her pride’, 19th August 2012).
Several photos of Derek, including one showing the Remap throwing frame, in the Sunday Telegraph (‘London 2012 Paralympics: the military personnel aiming for gold’, 19th August 2012).
Congratulations and thanks to Wendy Ward, daughter of South Bucks Panel member Roger Allen, on completing her sponsored climb of Mt Snowdon to raise money for Remap. 
Said Wendy: “The walk started well, with dry weather, but after ten minutes the rain and then hailstones started. Unfortunately the weather was like this most of the walk with the addition of gale-force winds. I climbed with eight friends and we all made it but were very soggy by the end. Thank goodness for waterproofs! It was well worth it in the end as I raised over £403 for Remap.”
A lady client had a knee joint removed, leaving her with a single bone running from hip to heel. Her right leg is now three inches shorter than her left and she can no longer bend it. After her operation she bought a scooter to get around outdoors, but her right leg stuck out in front, so she was in constant danger of catching her foot on the ground. We built a special platform onto the scooter frame to keep her foot clear of the ground and protect it from bumps and knocks.
Carers Bucks has a useful list of key support organisations
that carers in Buckinghamshire may need to contact:
http://www.carersbucks.org/useful-links
John's Site 