Rehasense helps Paralympian maintain his independence with power add-on
Double gold medallist Kevin Curtis has been able to have his life transformed thanks to the Eco Assist powered add-on from Rehasense.
Kevin was left paralysed from the waist down following an accident on his first day at work back in August 1978 when the roof he was working on collapsed.
After nearly 50 years of being a full-time wheelchair user the wear and tear on his shoulders was starting to tell and he invested in a Rehasense Eco Assist which he purchased through Ipswich based Felgains – a Rehasense dealer who he has known for many years as in addition to purchasing equipment for himself.
Over the last 47 years, Kevin hasn’t let his disability hold him back. His original plan prior to the accident was to join the Merchant Navy but this was not possible, and he embarked on a successful career in the insurance industry. However, sailing has remained his first love, and he has been extremely successful over the years.
In 1980, the Number 3 Challenger Trimaran boat was launched with the aim of helping wheelchair users enjoy independent sailing as the cockpit is centrally located with all the controls within easy reach. Kevin was so impressed with the boat that he started visiting boat shows around the UK to demonstrate this latest development and raise awareness of para sailing in the UK and was even sponsored by Sun Alliance Insurance Company who he was working for at the time.
After succeeding in various national events in the UK over the next 15 years, Kevin was selected for the 1992 Barcelona World Championships for sailing, where he won gold. This was followed by further gold medal success at the 1996 Paralympics in Atalanta.
“To represent your country at the Paralympics was an incredible honour and something I will never forget,” commented Kevin. After his second Paralympic success, Kevin decided to go out at the top and retired from competitive sailing.
While sailing, Kevin had also been doing a lot of hand cycling as a way of maintaining his fitness but this, combined with decades of using a manual wheelchair meant his shoulders were getting increasingly worn.
He commented: “In June last year, I attended the Allied Mobility Show at Jimmy’s Farm, and this is where I met Simon from Rehasense and saw the Eco Assist for the first time. Simon went through the range of power add-ons and the Eco Assist seemed to tick all the boxes in terms of features, functionality and cost.”
Kevin agreed to meet with Simon and Barry Tunley from Felgains at their Ipswich showroom for a longer demonstration. “After a second test drive, I was sold!”
In March this year, Simon and Linda Best from Felgains delivered Kevin’s Eco Assist with off-road tyre to him at home. “The Eco Assist is just fantastic as is the customer service from Felgains – who have never let me down and the support of Simon from Rehasense! It is easy to attach to my manual wheelchair, the three speeds are great, and I love the cruise control for when I am out with friends as I can just set it to their walking pace.
“I have longer legs than most people, so Simon arranged for a bespoke footplate to be fitted which makes a real difference. The off-road tyre means I can literally go off-road whilst the battery range is also more than enough for me, and I am already using my car a lot less for local trips.
“Personally, I think the Eco Assist offers great value for money and it is saving me money as I am spending less on petrol – I would recommend the Eco Assist, Rehasense and Felgains to anyone looking to increase their independence and confidence” concluded Kevin.
Launched in the UK in 2023, the Eco Assist consists of a high strength aluminium chassis, a 350-watt motor and 48-volt battery and offers a very cost-effective solution for wheelchair users looking for an entry level power add-on to increase their independence. Weighing 15.5kg with the battery and just 9.4kg without, the Eco Assist is easy to transport and manually clamps onto the frame of the wheelchair and disconnects with ease in one simple movement.
Available in a black finish, the Eco Assist has a maximum speed of 12mph and can be charged from empty to full in five hours. The twist throttle control, central LED display on/off button and three speed modes are all housed within the handlebars while standard features include cruise control, anti-slip traction control, LED headlight and horn.
Jordan Day, UK Sales Manager for Rehasense, commented: “Kevin’s story is a great example of how despite being a wheelchair user you can still live an exciting and fulfilling life and turn your dreams into a reality as he has shown by winning two gold medals which is amazing.
“It is also great to hear what a superb service Kevin received from Barry and the team at Felgains as we pride ourselves on only working with dealers that share our ethos when it comes to customer service.”
