Engineer takes on mobility scooter challenge

An engineer who spent his career designing equipment to help disabled people is to travel 100 miles (161km) on a mobility scooter for charity.

Tim Adlam, 53, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, was diagnosed last year with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) - a terminal neurological disease - and now uses a wheelchair.

He will set off later on the South Downs Way to raise money for three disability charities, including Designability, based at Royal United Hospital in Bath.

"There are lots of people who are going to be around to help support me and make sure we can get the whole way," he said.

Whilst working for Designability for 22 years, Mr Adlam designed bicycles for children with dwarfism and seats for children with complex Dystonia, a movement disorder.

"Becoming disabled after a career in disability and technology is becoming your own fascinating case study, seen up close in every detail.

"I am discovering, grieving, adapting, and living each day as it comes."

Mr Adlam said he chose the South Downs Way because of its accessibility and beautiful surrounding countryside - where he lived as a child - but also because it would provide a "meaningful challenge to reflect the journey he is on".

"We've done some practice runs, some of which have involved a stream crossing and carrying the scooter over a bridge.

"I don't think we're going to get any big problems, but mentally, it just comes back to what my wife said, 'it's like a fish, just keep on swimming'," he said.

Mr Adlam is hoping to raise £5,000 to be shared between Trowbridge-based Stepping Stones District Specialist Centre, the MSA Trust and Designability.

Stepping Stones, which helps pre-school children with additional needs, supported Mr Adlams' family when his son was born 15 weeks premature in 2005.

He is due to start the 100-mile challenge in Winchester later and he aims to finish in Eastbourne on 13 July.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.