Ryan Gratrix

Background

About Ryan Gratrix

As an active wheelchair user I've often found myself on the road less travelled. Having retired from professional sport after Atlanta Paralympics in 1996, I'd already learnt just how rewarding life could be as long as you were dedicated, determined and willing to make the occasional sacrifice for the greater good. To that end I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do. With the build up to the Sydney Paralympics just around the corner and quite a few friends heading off to compete on the world stage yet again, I picked up a backpack and headed for Oz too. This time it was a solo mission with nothing but a tent and some wheelchair spares. I ended up raising nearly £20K and covered the best part of Kilometres for a charity focused on providing the means for others to purchase the mobility equipment they actually wanted. Having a real understanding of just how important your kit is, so that you can actually have a chance to be the best version of yourself as possible, I found myself honing my skills as a product specialist for GBL Wheelchairs. Some 20 plus years later I'm just as passionate about helping others find their independence so that they can go off and have their own adventures. All too often people find their mobility equipment to be the biggest stumbling block, even before they've left their house. I still love to travel and have ticked 50+ countries off the list so far. I have met some of the best people in the harshest environments, normally with a bemused expression on their face due to me sitting next to them in the first place.