They might have a combined age of 190, but two twins at a north-east care home are loving life on a unique new bike.
The trishaw – a combination of a tricycle and rickshaw – has allowed residents, including 95-year-old twins, Janet Geddes and Nancy Bendelow, access to exercise and a way to enjoy the great outdoors.
It has proved a big hit with everybody at the Balmedie House Care Home.
The project originally came about through a partnership between Balmedie, Belhelvie Church of Scotland and Cycling Without Age Scotland.
When the local church became aware of new initiatives being offered by the cycling body, they saw an opportunity to work in partnership with Balmedie House, where the minister is the chaplain.
The aim was to purchase a specially constructed trishaw which would enable the residents and their families to spend time outside, with the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces, fulfilling wishes and making happy memories.
Church members helped with the fundraising, amassing £2,500, while Balmedia mustered another £5,000 to purchase the trishaw, whereupon staff were trained in how to to use the vehicle and the residents were ready for adventure.
Ann Reid, unit manager, has been delighted at the new lease of life granted to the residents and is keen to explore ways of purchasing another of the vehicles..
She said: “Almost all of them have been out on the trishaw and it has brought back many memories of days gone by, when motorised transport was rare.
“Sharing stories has been amazing and made staff think how hard life must have been in the 1940s and 1950s, when the only means of transport for most people was a bike.
“The feedback from families has been very positive as well.
“One family arrived to visit and were surprised to find that their gran was out in the trishaw, because she had not been outside for many years.
“As the trishaw came into the car park, the family sat in it beside their gran, and it was a special emotional moment because she passed away four months later.
“This moment was captured and will remain with the grand- daughter and it is one one that she will share with her own children.
“Janet and Nancy are twins, who have always been very close and we were able to reunite the two ladies last year. They moved into Balmedie House and their rooms are next door to each other.
“They choose to spend all day together and it is clear that Nancy is certainly the boss!
“But they both really enjoy being out on the trishaw and when they started singing ‘A Bicycle Built for Two’, it was a very special moment.”
