'I want to show anyone can celebrate National Day'

Sharjah: A Sharjah man took to his wheels yesterday to embark on a journey that will take four days to cover around 170 kilometres to Abu Dhabi. His wheels are unlike anything you are probably familiar with. They are powered by the sun and can travel up to 10km per hour.

Fluttering UAE flags and supportive honking from motorists saw Hayder Talib, director of the Al Thiqah Club for the Handicapped set off towards the capital thanks to a specially adapted solar powered wheelchair, to mark UAE National Day and spread more awareness on people with special needs.


 
Electric wheelchairs have to be recharged periodically, said Hayder, but his solar powered wheelchair will allow him to reach his final destination without interruption.

"The UAE has a lot of sun and it can help people that are disabled to get around with more ease without having to wait to recharge their wheelchair," Hayder told Gulf News. The chair can travel at 10km per hour, which is ‘quite slow actually,' said Hayder. It has two sets of solar panels positioned above the chair, almost like a peaked roof. A convoy is following him during the trip and Hayder will sleep in hotels overnight.

"I want to celebrate UAE National Day and make people understand the situation for disabled people in this part of society. I want to show anyone can celebrate this day in their own way," he said.

His route will take him down Al Ittihad Road, Al Mulla Plaza underpass and then onto Al Maktoum Bridge, where his day then will end in Jumeirah. The second day of the journey will continue on to Shaikh Zayed Road up to Saih Shoaib.

The third day will involve travelling to Abu Dhabi via Al Raha Beach Mall, and on Wednesday he will reach his final destination at Shaikh Zayed Mosque and pray for the founder of the UAE.

The chair is being sponsored by Limbtech, an orthopaedic technology company from Germany. On completion of the ride, Hayder will be presented with a new ‘active' wheelchair from Limbtech.

"What Hayder does is very good and really shows someone in a wheelchair is like everybody else," said Petra Muller, business development manager from Limbtech.