02/06/2025
A useful thing to know about for assisted runners who want to celebrate their Parkrun milestones.....
So excited to discover this morning that now have milestone sew on badges. Lucy has a few milestones under her belt and when she got to 10 we bought the t-shirt. Problem is you can’t see the milestone number if you’re sat in a wheelchair or the logo on the front when you have support harnesses on. We have used pin badges on a band on her Delta up to now but I feel some kind of parkrun milestone sash coming on! Why does it matter to me to have the clothes the identity things like this? Two reasons… it’s easy to see her as someone just being ‘pushed around’ parkrun but that is to seriously underestimate the effort it takes for her to keep alert, the delta buggy feels different from her super supportive everyday chair… she’s seated differently, it sways a bit as it’s a bit like a hammock the way it’s suspended in the frame. She also has to manage and process the speed and changes in speed and movement along with whatever sensory experiences the weather is offering that day. It I’d effort for her as well as whoever is pushing the buggy and she deserves that recognition just like all parkrunners. The other reason is the clothes are a mark of identity and as such a communication opportunity… it can be difficult for people to know how to start a conversation with Lucy but clothes that offer something to say… a milestone t-shirt or a jumper marking an event for example… give a starting point, just like they do for the rest of us… 🌳
