Mel Richards, 43 from Edinburgh is a remarkable lady. Despite living with an MS-like condition that causes walking difficulties she has been able to continue enjoying a varied lifestyle and is applying to Higher Education thanks to a Supersport mobility scooter.

Mel, who is originally from Brisbane in Australia and able-bodied, came to the UK on holiday between semesters at the University of Queensland over 20 years ago. Having arrived and almost immediately broken an ankle on the unfamiliarly snowy streets, her stay has extended slightly beyond the original twelve weeks planned. With the injury almost resolved, Mel was offered a one-year office manager contract working in Stockport which subsequently progressed into a journalism career, writing for numerous computing magazines such as MacWorld, Internet Today and Secure Computing. This included another unexpected side trip onto the staff of a paranormal title working with Uri Geller and writing about ghosts, psychics and conspiracy theories for six months.

In 1998 and now in Wales writing about computer security, she was diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition that continues to restrict her career and lifestyle activities, even having moved to accessible accommodation in Edinburgh. Despite the mobility issues, Mel still remained keen to complete a Degree even after her previous course in Australia was cut short due to the development of her British writing career. Now Mel has a new 'Harley Davidson' style TGA mobility scooter, she has been able to independently travel to Ruskin College at Oxford (part of the Adult Residential College network) and is launching plans to enrol on a new Degree.

Mel said: "I have just taken ownership of my second TGA Supersport after nine years of remarkable independence given by my first model. As I live in Edinburgh's historic Old Town and have major difficulties walking, I need a scooter that has the power to tackle steep hills and lots of cobbles - my Supersport just eats them up!. It is such a... Read more