Mobility is incredibly important for Tanni Grey-Thompson, but innovation and beautiful design matter too. That’s why she is an ambassador for Centaur Robotics, creators of the award-winning Centaur.
During her sporting career, Tanni Grey-Thompson has amassed 16 Paralympic medals – including 11 golds – 12 world championship medals and has won the London wheelchair marathon six times. Since Tanni became a lifetime peer in 2010, tackling issues surrounding equality, disability rights, welfare reform (and of course sports) have taken over from competing at elite level.
Innovation
Innovation in the mobility world is another passion: Tanni saw the two-wheeled, self-balancing Centaur being put through its paces earlier this year and now can’t wait to try it out for herself.
“I think what the Centaur offers is a really beautiful looking product that people feel comfortable with, are happy to sit in and use,” enthuses Tanni. “It doesn’t feel like an ugly mobility product, it feels like something that’s beautifully designed.
“People don’t want to feel like the chair is the biggest part of them. They want to feel that the chair is something around them. Not being able to see much of it is really important about how people feel about their mobility.”
Tanni is an ambassador for Centaur Robotics, which has developed the award-winning Centaur. She was impressed by the vehicles manoeuvrability and its ability to turn in its footprint. This can mean huge savings for people who have previously had to renovate homes or widen doorways to accommodate traditional wheelchairs.
Empowering
“You don’t need to do a three-point turn or need loads and loads of space,” highlights Tanni. “It’s only when you see it in operation do you understand what it can do for people.”
The Centaur turns on a sixpence, its seat rises up, putting the user at eye-level with others and it fits into the space of a dining room chair.
“The Centaur can give people the freedom to do what they want, when they want, in their own environment,” adds Tanni. “It gives them something really powerful and empowering.”
The Centaur won the guest innovation category at the Blue Badge Access Awards in April 2022. Judge Michael Vermeersch, digital inclusion lead at Microsoft UK, described it as a ‘solution that gives back independence’.
You can now reserve your Centaur online for delivery next year with a refundable deposit of only £100. Go to: https://centaurrobotics.com/
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