A new charity will work to increase access to the Yorkshire Dales in memory of a teacher who died from bowel cancer last year.
Access the Dales has been established by Debbie North, a wheelchair user for more than a decade, in memory of her husband of 18 years Andy, a former deputy headteacher from Halifax.
The charity has secured Amanda Owen, known to millions of TV viewers as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, as its patron and will be launched on Saturday 2 April as part of the eight-day Access the Dales festival at Amanda’s farm in Swaledale.
Events will include a conference on Tuesday 5 April which will highlight how simple measures can improve access for wheelchair users and people with dementia and visual impairments.
The charity’s mission statement sets out its commitment to make the Yorkshire Dales more accessible to more people by growing the number of locations where people can borrow an all-terrain wheelchair.
Access the Dales supports people of all ages but is particularly passionate about helping children to get outdoors. It has already created partnerships with mobility businesses, a manufacturer of all-terrain wheelchairs and other organisations which work to promote accessibility.
Its website is building a directory showing accommodation, places to eat and drink and various activities which are accessible.
Debbie told the Yorkshire Post: “The Dales have always been such a special place for Andy and I and we both loved getting out into the countryside even after I had to start using a wheelchair.
“After he was diagnosed Andy said to me that he wanted me to still be able to get out and have my adventures even when he was gone. I was astonished by people’s generosity after Andy passed away and this charity is very much about his legacy.”
Amanda added: “We want to ensure as many people as possible have the chance to experience the Dales and this charity is aimed at doing just that.”
To find out more visit https://www.access-the-dales.com/
