)
Skip to main content

Foundation Learners complete special bike project for local girl

Published
Monday 14 Dec 2020

A Myerscough College Foundation Learning tutor and students have completed a very special project for a local girl with Cerebral Palsy.

TIA 1

Andy Nuttall, Lecturer in Motor Vehicle Studies, along with foundation learning students and the department’s Supported Internship group, adapted a standard bike for three-year-old Tia Harrison, from Preston. The project was completed last week, with the very special delivery made just in time for Christmas.

Andy answered to a social media post where Tia’s mum, Catherine, reached out for ways to try and raise £3,000 to buy an adapted bike for her. A bike that could be adapted was then donated by Michelle Lomas and her local clothing company, Red Roux Rouge. Andy went a step further and with the students, carried out all the necessary adaptations to make the bike suitable for Tia.

The project saw them completely fabricate and weld a new rear end to convert the bike into a trike, add a seat with safety harnesses, adapt the pedals with foot holders and straps, added a handle to control the bike and most importantly added shiny bows to the handle bars.

Tia’s mum, Catherine Harrison, said: ‘’I cannot describe how happy I am and how grateful we are to have been so lucky that Tia got her wish.

‘’A massive thank you to Michelle and Red Roux Rouge for gifting Tia a bike to be adapted. It was truly amazing generosity and has given a little girl all she wanted.

‘’Secondly a massive thank you to Andy. What an absolute amazing kind guy and super talented you are. It was very emotional to see her sat there on a bike. Thank you both so much for caring for my little girl and giving her a special amazing bike. I’m so grateful to know you both.

‘’The bike is going to bring so much happiness for her and us as a family. We are truly overwhelmed with it all and feel we are so lucky. Thank you just doesn't seem enough. Andy and his team should be very, very proud of themselves. It’s a perfect end to the most awful year, and so many happy memories will be made.’’

Andy Nuttall, Motor Vehicle Studies tutor at Myerscough College, said: ‘’It has been my absolute pleasure to do this for Tia with my students.

‘’I have built many crazy things from cars to motorbikes, and even robots, but this has to be my best project to date! It was worth it just to see that smile. She absolutely deserves this!’’

The photographs show Andy Nuttall delivering the bike to Tia.

by Dave Salmon

DSalmon@myerscough.ac.uk