As part of his ambitious #50at50 campaign, disability advocate Nick Wilson (@disabled.adventurer) recently completed his first 50km challenge along the Tarka Trail in North Devon.
Unique Mobility was delighted to be asked by Nick to provide essential support on the day, delivering battery changes and technical assistance to help him complete the journey.
Highlighting a Hidden Barrier for Powerchair Users
Nick’s challenge aims to highlight an issue many powerchair users face: battery range anxiety.
Although modern powerchairs are incredibly capable, battery range can still limit how far users feel comfortable travelling.
Nick’s own Quantum 4Front2 powerchair typically has a range of around 10–12 miles, although this varies depending on factors such as:
- battery type
- user weight
- terrain
- temperature
- battery age
- charging patterns
Once fully discharged, batteries normally require around eight hours to recharge, meaning long journeys can be difficult without planning or support.
Nick hopes his #50at50 challenges will raise awareness of this issue while also fundraising to help improve outdoor accessibility.
Setting Off Along the Tarka Trail
Nick began his journey at 10am on Monday 13th April, setting off from Bideford along the Tarka Trail.
Unique Mobility’s Marketing Manager Hannah Philpott joined Nick on foot for the first hour of the journey.
After meeting with our engineer Lee Johns from our Launceston Workshop team to plan battery change points, the pair set off along the trail towards Instow, enjoying some welcome Devon sunshine.
The Tarka Trail, a converted railway line, offers a smooth and wide tarmac path suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users.
With stunning views across the estuary, it provided a beautiful setting for the first leg of Nick’s challenge.
Nick kept a steady pace of around 3.5mph, conscious of conserving battery power for the long journey ahead.
Unexpected Challenges Along the Route
After reaching Instow, Hannah had to leave and Nick continued along the trail.
He was joined by Kevin Atkins from Quantum Rehab UK, the manufacturer of his powerchair for a short stretch, before continuing solo.
Nick had hoped to complete part of the route along the South West Coast Path, having been advised that it might be accessible....
Sadly, reality proved different.
Deep channels, sand dunes and narrow paths meant the route was not passable in his powerchair, forcing Nick to return to the Tarka Trail.
Battery Challenges on the Trail
At Fremington Quay, Nick reached the first planned battery change point with around 60% battery remaining and decided to continue.
Just 3km later, his battery level suddenly dropped to 12%.
Thankfully, Lee was able to quickly locate Nick and carry out the first battery change in Barnstaple.
Nick continued to Chivenor, reaching the turning point of his journey at around 4pm.
A second battery change on the return journey ensured he had enough power to complete the full challenge.
Completing the 50km Challenge
After a long day on the trail, Nick rolled back into Bideford at around 8:30pm, completing the first of his #50at50 challenges.
Spending over ten hours in a powerchair, with limited opportunity to change position and continually operating the joystick controls is exhausting.
For Nick — who also lives with chronic pain — the challenge was an incredible achievement.
Supporting the #50at50 Mission
Nick’s campaign aims to raise funds to provide all-terrain powerchairs at outdoor venues, helping wheelchair users experience places that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Unique Mobility was proud to support Nick’s first challenge and we look forward to seeing the rest of the #50at50 journey unfold.
A huge thank you to Lee from our Launceston team for his dedication and support on the day, and to Nick for allowing us to be part of such an inspiring project.
How You Can Support Nick
You can learn more about Nick’s work and support his campaign by following him online: 50at50 | My Biggest Fundraising Project Yet
One of the simplest ways to help is by following his social media channels and engaging with his content, helping him grow his platform and generate income to support the campaign.
Together we can help make the outdoors more accessible for everyone.