FAQs

A number of questions have been raised when I posted about our aims and why we are fundraising, so here are some of them. More will be added as and when the questions are asked, especially as I am unable to reply directly to people on forums at times (due to non-activation of registration, for instance!):

Q: Why an American-style Motorhome and not a caravan?

A: As a wheelchair user travelling throughout the UK alone, a towable caravan presents a whole host of problems: Overnight stays at proper campsites that are open all year; hitching and unhitching; disabled toilet facilities; lack of space for storing and displaying information packs, promotional material, tackle, etc.

An RV though, of the 30-35 feet range has adequate storage, display space and in some cases, a pull-out which would enable 4-6 people to sit and talk comfortably, whatever the weather. As someone with osteo-arthritis, driving a manual vehicle for long periods of time can be extremely uncomfortable, whereas the American-type RVs are mostly fitted with automatic transmission. Many of them also have onboard generators and proper toilet facilities. The doorways are also far more accessible to me than a standard caravan’s door. Even secondhand, an RV of this quality would enable me to be on the road continually, throughout the year, talking to people who want me to visit them and have expressed an interest, (in many cases it’s a need) in Reels on Wheels and the Buddy System.

Q: Why do commercial fisheries need financial help to provide disabled pegs/platforms?

A: Many commercial fisheries are small businesses who are covering their running costs, but can’t afford to invest in the works and materials necessary to improve access and disabled facilities at their lakes. While they want to attract more disabled and less able anglers, they haven’t the funds to do that, so have asked for our help. These are waters which would be sadly missed if they weren’t there, and one of them is a club which encourages youngsters and their families to fish, so why not help them?