Where there’s a WHILL, there’s a way
Lighter in design, big on possibilities: Pippa puts the new WHILL C Lite through its paces, from city visits and bus trips, to seaside adventures. After more than two years of exploring life in her WHILL C2, Pippa decided it was time to try something new. Here, she shares how the lightweight WHILL C Lite is helping her to rediscover the joy of accessible travel and adventures.
“I’m Pippa, and I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user from Yorkshire. I’ve used and loved the WHILL C2 power-chair for over two years now (it was a big upgrade from the wheelchair I used previously!), but recently I’ve been trying out the new WHILL C Lite to see how it aligns with my access needs and my lifestyle.
The main thing that immediately appealed to me about the WHILL C Lite was the portability. As much as I love the WHILL C2, the capabilities of the chair mean it’s on the heftier side, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to get it in and out of a non-adapted car as much as I needed to. The WHILL C Lite, on the other hand, is designed to be much more portable – it’s only 17kg in weight and it can be folded down in just the squeeze of a lever.”
”Although I have a chronic illness that requires careful rest and pacing, I’m very fortunate to be able to travel for my work and for fun. In just the short time I’ve been trying out the WHILL C Lite, I’ve already been able to…”
Attend a good friend’s wedding with ease.
“Knowing that the WHILL C Lite could fit into the boot of a non-adapted car meant we didn’t have to worry about sorting out accessible transport days in advance or fret about getting home – we could simply book a standard taxi on demand when we were ready to leave, meaning I had more energy and brain space to fully enjoy the day.”
Enjoy a solo shopping trip in York.
“I boarded my local bus via the ramp with no issues and ambled around the city centre at my own pace, getting my errands done and also treating myself to a mooch around some of my favourite stores. There is no exercise in self-restraint quite like going into Sostrene Grene and trying to come back out without buying the entire range of stock. It’s still early days for the WHILL C Lite and I, but I can envision plenty more accessible adventures ahead!”
Travel to the coast with my Mum.
“One of the biggest reasons I was keen to try the WHILL C Lite was to make travel and transport easier for the two of us, as we both struggle with mobility. Having a more lightweight chair meant we could get it in and out of the car much more easily and more frequently too, meaning we could enjoy plenty of little strolls along the seafront and, of course, stop for the mandatory fish and chips that every trip to the seaside requires. I’m pleased to report that my Velcro dog Ruby fully approves of the new model too!”
Pippa tells us…
“So far, the WHILL C Lite has served me incredibly well, and I’ve had plenty of compliments from others when I’m out and about too – although the iconic omni-wheels are smaller on this model than they are on the C2, I can confirm they’re still very much a conversation starter!”
If you’d like to find out more about Pippa’s experience, you can watch her full first impressions video about the WHILL C Lite here on YouTube:
https://rebrand.ly/Pippa-Stacey-WHILL-C-Lite-First-Impressions
Photography above: Pippa Stacey
If you’d like to find out more about the WHILL C Lite, or to arrange a demonstration, please get in touch with us on 01787 882244 or visit the WHILL C Lite page here on our website for further details.
