My name is Gavin Wilson, I am a 36 year old Sports Journalist from York, and I have a Spinal Cord Injury. I'm not being dramatic for effect, but I would not be the person I am today without the SD Motion Drive.
On June 24th 2001 I suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury at C4 level after coming off my mountain bike on a cross-country track. I spent a month in intensive care before being transferred to Pinderfields hospital to continue my recovery at their specialist spinal unit.
A big milestone in my recovery was choosing what kind of wheelchair would be the best option for me and my lifestyle moving forward, and me being a very self-conscious 14 year old at the time, I wanted something sleek and sporty looking, that was easy to manoeuvre. At this point my Occupational Therapist (the iconic Mary Hutchison) introduced me to a relatively new concept called the SD Motion Drive — powered wheels that were operated by a small joystick, that could be fitted to almost any wheelchair. I had a test drive and I was instantly sold!
In March 2002 I returned to my old secondary school and gained my GCSEs and A Levels, before moving to Leeds for University in 2006. I lived in Leeds for a full decade before returning to York where I met my now Wife Alice in 2017 — we got married in 2021. I have travelled across the UK, Europe and even Toronto, New York & Las Vegas for both work and pleasure, and every single day I have done so being powered by the SD Motion Drive.
The SD Motion Drive's functionality, adaptability, versatility and dependability are what sets it apart from other powered wheel sets on the market. The team at Steering Developments continue to innovate and improve the custom options available too — my latest SD Motion Drive set up that I bought in 2023 features Halo mountain bike rims and puncture proof Continental mountain bike tyres, with a long distance lithium battery now concealed under the seat, giving me even more freedom and functionality than ever before!
For nearly twenty three years the customer service provided by Jeff, Lisa and the team at Steering Developments has never been less than exceptional. They have always made me feel like a valued client, they listen to and consider all of my needs, and no job is ever too small or silly for them. I honestly cannot thank them — and the SD Motion Drive — enough for their significant part in the amazing life I am able to experience.
10/10 would recommend!