Rediscovering Adventure, Freedom and Family Time with WHILL
There’s an unspoken freedom that comes with being outside – we’ve all felt it. Whether it’s spending time beneath the tree canopy of Wendover Woods, following a winding coastal path or simply stopping to take in the fresh air, nature has a way of making us feel lighter, calm and free.
In Norway, there’s a beautiful philosophy called Friluftsliv, which captures that feeling perfectly as “free-air life.” It’s the belief that spending time in nature nourishes both body and mind, and that everyone deserves to experience that feeling.
For Grace True, exploring natural landscapes wasn’t just a hobby – it was part of who she was. “I used to love hiking. It was freeing.”
Twelve-hour hikes came naturally to Grace. They gave her space to think, breathe and reconnect with herself. Long before she became a mum, she imagined one day sharing that same love of the outdoors with her own children. Then her mobility changed, and those adventures came to an abrupt halt.
Like many people living with a disability, Grace wasn’t simply grieving the loss of an activity she loved. She was grieving a part of her identity. The freedom, confidence and independence she found outdoors suddenly felt out of reach, along with the future she’d imagined. “I didn’t talk about it, because losing that part of myself to disability has been a mountain in itself to overcome” she tells us.
For a long time in this pause, it felt as though the outdoors had become somewhere other people belonged. Then there was a shift – she rediscovered a confidence that changed everything. Grace explains “Reconnecting with that part of yourself and those experiences again was a completely new kind of freedom. I realised I may not be able to hike anymore in the traditional sense, but I can still explore and appreciate those outdoor spaces in my own way.”
That realisation wasn’t just about getting back outside. It was about understanding that the adventures she thought she’d lost were still possible – and that one day, she could share them with her own family too.
This renewed confidence came with the support of her WHILL C2.
“The suspension of the WHILL C2 is a game changer for navigating outdoor spaces that can be challenging for accessibility. I’ve been over cobbles and gravel – I even drove up a set of stairs at a Polish castle, believe it or not!” Knowing her chair can comfortably handle different terrain has transformed the way she approaches new places.
The Grace who once tackled mountain hikes is now discovering coastal paths, parks and historic landmarks in a different way. The routes may have changed, but the feeling of adventure hasn’t. More importantly, she’s no longer exploring alone.
Sharing the adventure
Grace now spends time discovering coastal paths, parks and outdoor spaces alongside her daughter, creating memories she once thought might never be possible.
“Spending that time with her is priceless. One of my biggest fears when I was pregnant was that I wouldn’t be able to play or explore with her, so finding ways to do that on the days my disability impacts me more means so much.
She loves sitting on my knee and trying to steer it. It sparks a healthy curiosity in her. I know she’ll grow up with compassion, knowing that mobility aids are a help, not a hindrance, because she’ll see what a difference they make for her mum.”
Freedom looks different – A new independence
Living with a disability often means adapting, and Grace is honest about how difficult that can be.
“Change can be really scary, especially when you feel like you’re losing your independence. It’s normal to feel sad about the things you’ve lost to disability, but embracing who you are now, what’s still possible, and learning to love yourself leaves you with everything to gain. Independence and freedom, and how we measure that, may look different, but they’re absolutely still possible.”
“It’s important not to compare or look back; you’re not going that way.” Grace explains.
Sometimes independence isn’t measured by how far you travel. Sometimes it’s measured by having the freedom to leave the house, spend time with loved ones and say yes to everyday life.
More than adventure
Travelling and exploring new places has brought Grace back to the outdoors she loves, but some of the biggest changes have happened much closer to home.
“My WHILL has changed so much for me in terms of what’s possible. Yes, I’ve taken it abroad and explored new places, but more importantly, I’ve been able to leave the house on days I never could before.
I’ve gone to the supermarket, to work and to the park. I’ve finally been able to do those basic day-to-day activities that most people take for granted without hurting myself in the process.”
From listening to Grace and looking through her photos of these amazing trips, you can see that this was never just about returning to life as it was before. It was about reconnecting with a part of herself and
discovering she could now pass that love of adventure on to the next generation. The adventures may look different to the ones she imagined years ago, but they’re every bit as meaningful. Mobility aids don’t simply restore independence; they create opportunities to build memories, strengthen relationships and experience life’s everyday adventures together.
Looking beyond the barriers
Grace knows inaccessible environments can still feel overwhelming, but she believes there are far more opportunities available than many people realise.
“The world can feel like it isn’t built for us, and inaccessibility can be incredibly frustrating when you just want to do the most basic things outside. But there are still options out there, and more than you may think.
There are websites that list accessible walking routes, more places are offering adaptive outdoor sports, my local park rents out hand-powered bicycles, and the last time I went to the beach there were specialised beach wheelchairs and someone trying adaptive surfing.
Disability may mean we have to do things a little differently, but it shouldn’t mean we have to lose everything we once loved about being outdoors or ourselves.”
She also believes sharing experiences is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change.
“Using your voice is incredibly powerful. Sharing experiences – both the good and bad about accessibility – helps build a narrative that creates change. If historical buildings can be adapted for wheelchair users, your local council can put in a dropped kerb. Feeling confident enough to try a mobility aid and talk about the positive impact it has can inspire someone else to do the same, even if you don’t realise it.
That’s why I’ll always continue to share my journey and talk about the positive impact my wheelchair has had on my life. Mobility aids are incredibly powerful tools that should never be seen as a bad thing.”
Grace’s story is about rediscovering confidence, embracing change and proving that freedom doesn’t disappear when life changes – sometimes it simply takes a different path. For Grace, mobility isn’t about returning to who she was before, it’s about embracing what is possible now.
Today, the woodland walks, coastal paths and everyday adventures that once felt impossible are part of family life. They’re moments shared with her daughter, proving that disability may change the journey, but it doesn’t have to change where it leads.
Because everyone deserves the chance to explore and to feel free.
Photography: Grace True
