Join us on this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast as we explore the remarkable journey of Amanda Harris, an adapted cyclist and dedicated fundraiser who has embraced life's challenges following a spinal cord injury. Living in South Wales with her husband and two teenage children, Amanda's story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking down barriers.
Originally from Devon and a law graduate from Cardiff University, Amanda has spent over 30 years in Wales. Her life took a dramatic turn after a serious bike accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. Despite the life-altering event, Amanda's spirit remained unbroken. She spent nine months in the hospital, relearning basic skills and adapting to her new reality.
Amanda's love for cycling was rekindled when she was gifted a recumbent bike, allowing her to take on new challenges and raise funds for charity. Her journey includes the ambitious goal of completing the Wales Coast Path (WCP) using a trike, wheelchair, and occasionally walking with crutches. Amanda's determination and adaptability shine as she navigates accessibility issues and relies on friends and family to assist with sections that are not accessible.
In this episode, Amanda shares her experiences, from her early years in Devon to her life in Wales, her passion for cycling, and the various challenges she has undertaken. We delve into her methods for staying positive, setting tiny goals, and focusing on what she can achieve. Amanda's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of embracing life's challenges with a positive attitude.
Tune in to hear Amanda's inspiring journey and her advice for women facing their own challenges. Discover how she continues to push boundaries and inspire others with her remarkable story of overcoming adversity and loving life.
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Show notes
- Who is Amanda
- Living in South Wales with her husband and two teenage children
- Originally growing up in Devon
- Studying Law at Cardiff University
- Living in Wales for over 30 years
- Meeting her husband at University
- Bringing her children up in Wales
- Still learning the Welsh Language
- Her early years and spending lots of time outside
- Not being particularly sporty or competitive
- Making walking plans for retirement
- Getting into cycling before her 40th birthday
- Signing up for a charity cycle ride
- Being in a bike accident which caused a spinal cord injury and multiple other injuries
- Not being able to feel her legs and knowing something serious had happened
- Spending 9 months in hospital
- Having to learn everything again
- How it changed her life
- What’s happened since
- Deciding to complete the Wales Coast Path (WCP) by trike, wheelchair and occasionally a few steps
- Being able to walk a few steps with crutches
- Why can’t I do this now
- Accepting that there are some parts which are’t accessible
- Asking friends and family to walk that sections that aren’t accessible
- Accessibility on the Wales Coast Path
- Research before taking on new sections
- Why everyone has different needs when it comes to access and accessibility
- The need for planning
- Needing to walk the path around work and needing support from other people
- Completing approx 500 miles needing to do the North Wales Sections
- Raising funds for charity
- Getting back into cycling and being gifted a recumbent bike
- Being involved in different cycling challenges
- Winning a competition with - Spinal Injuries Association
- Heading out to Portugal in May 2024 to ride 200 miles over 3 days!
- Having moments of doubt
- Not going into the dark place
- Focusing on the positives and what she can do
- Giving things ago and saying yes to more things (such as doing this interview!)
- Wanting to take the tandem bike over to America to do a big ride with her husband
- How to connect with Amanda on line
- Final words of advice for women who are going through a challenging time
- Not wanting to preach to people
- Try and stay positive
- Setting tiny, tiny goals in a notebook and how this helped during rehab
- Find out what works for you and focus on that
Social Media
Instagram: @amandah_trike
Instagram: @amandascoastalchallenge