Martin is only the second paraplegic to have made it to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa. A feat for any person, facing altitude, inhospitable terrain and extreme temperatures, but to have achieved this in a wheelchair is nothing short of incredible. Martin undertook to make the ascent in a specially adapted handbike and every aspect of the trip has been meticulously thought through to help him achieve the impossible.
BundleBean is exceptionally proud to have designed two pairs of adaptive salopettes – hand made to his specific requirements and needs to ensure he is warm (not easy as Martin has no movements from the waist down), dry and critically that he doesn’t sustain sores or rubs that would almost certainly bring the trek to an end.
Martin’s motivations behind this epic challenge are varied: for one he wants to raise awareness and change for all disabled people, not only those affected by spinal injuries. He feels passionately about changing the narrative from the evil enacted upon him his daughter on that fateful day in 2017 and turn it into a positive force for good. He credits so many people with getting him to this point – the emergency services, the NHS, his family and friends and, not least, the Spinal Injuries Association.
Nik Hartley, CEO of the Spinal Injuries Association was on BBC Breakfast this morning saying that if Martin can raise his goal of £1million, it will enable the charity to support every single person living with a spinal injury to have a specialist nurse, counsellor and advocate in their region to help them live their very best lives, get equipment they need and back to work or education. A spinal injury is much more than a physical impairment, affecting everything from skin to bowels and sexual function – and as much, specialist care is badly needed.
None of this has been easy – Martin has battled with health issues leading up to his departure, Covid prevented him going twice, and half way to the summit two of his closest friends had to go back down to be treated for high altitude sickness. Martin will be speaking on BBC Breakfast tomorrow – please do tune in to hear more from this remarkable man.
And if you can, please do donate: https://martins-mountain.justgiving-sites.com/
So from Team Bean to Martin – congratulations big guy. We will sleep a bit better now you are safely down!
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Martin's team comprises friends, people who helped saved his life and those who helped him rebuild his life after being injured in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. Martin was the closest survivor, but suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the waist down.
The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) has been instrumental in getting Martin rehabitliated and given him tremendous support. This climb is in aid of the SIA and to date he has already raised an incredible £450k of the £1million he hopes to raise. Please sponsor him here: https://martins-mountain.justgiving-sites.com/
BundleBean is exceptionally proud to be sponsoring Martin and has designed two pairs of specially adapted trousers to ensure he will be warm, dry and comfortable as he journeys through wet, arid and very cold climates. These salopettes have been designed in tandem with PHD, adapted for Martin's unique needs, ensuring he will be warm at temperatures that can plummet to -25 degrees.
We could not be prouder to play a very small part in this extraordinary challenge. Everyone at Team Bean will be cheering you on every step of the way.
]]>After another tough year for everyone, we are reminded that Christmas for many children will be harder than anything we can imagine.
There are children across England and Europe who, through no fault of their own, are living through the toughest conditions: who are cold, scared, hungry and sad. The Flying Seagull Project are a group of entertainers dedicated to taking happiness, childhood and laughter to children living through the most harsh conditions.
In refugee camps across northern Greece, there are children living in tents and portacabins, enduring the extreme cold and strong mountain winds this winter, with nowhere to play or to feel safe. All children have the basic human right to play, but in far too many cases, thousands of children are being starved of these rights, as well as the most basic levels of safety, sanitation, food and nutrition that they deserve.
The team at The Flying Seagull Project think this isn’t good enough, and we agree.
Join us in supporting them and let’s come together for ‘Stand Up for Childhood’. We can help them raise much needed funds to take play, joy and happiness to children who really need it this winter – creating happy memories, warm feelings and belly laughs for thousands of children who really deserve it.
Please lend your support to The Flying Seagull Project in one of these ways:
Thank you for your interest and support
Let’s try and come together to bring some joy to those who need it the most.
With love from
Emily and everyone at Team Bean
xxx
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As a rule of thumb, count yourself and your sling as a layer each and bear this in mind when dressing your baby. Unless it is very cold it is generally OK for your baby to be in indoor clothes, with a cosy hat, warm socks or bootees and a babywearing cover or coat over both of you. If you go indoors in to a warm shop, café or back home, be sure to remove hat and outer layer.
Big padded snowsuits may look adorable BUT they can cause problems when babywearing: there is a chance of baby overheating and they make it very hard to fit a sling snugly and correctly without them slumping down.
Always make sure your babies face is visible and close enough to kiss. A kiss is a great way to check your babies temperature!
It goes without saying that you need to take extra care when walking when you have a precious bundle on board. Whether its wet, muddy, icy or snowy – make sure you wear shoes with good grip
There is nothing better than having some everyday adventures with your littlest one – whether you’re in the Yorkshire Dales or the Scottish Highlands, or just taking a toddle to the local park to feed the ducks. You will both enjoy all the benefits of being out in the fresh air and having some lovely bonding cuddles as you go!
PS Team Bean loves NOTHING more than seeing you all out on your everyday adventures. Please share and tag your pictures with us and make our day!
For the month of September Team Bean are the Wonder Beans.
Emily, Nat, Sam and Kate are excited to be joining Wiltshire’s 7-year-old superstar and model Carmela Chillery-Watson in her Wonder Woman Challenge.
Last year Carmela raised over £17,500 for medical research into Muscular Dystrophy on her ‘Wonder Woman Walk’. This year she is inviting teams to help her spread awareness and fundraise towards research into a treatment or cure.
We love everything that Carmela does and are massive fans, so we have joined her in her challenge and are hoping to complete Stage 1: 170 miles from Wiltshire to Dover. A mix of running , swimming , dog walking , cycling , powerchair walking , dancing & exercise classes and the gym.
Carmela has a very rare form of Muscular Dystrophy called LMNA
Congenital Muscular Dystrophy which affects only 1 in every million babies.
It is a cruel muscle-wasting disease, life-shortening terminal condition for
which at present there is no cure or treatment.
As it’s a progressive muscle wasting disease it will weaken the
skeletal muscles and Carmela will ultimately lose the ability to sit, stand and
walk unassisted. It can also affect the heart with risk of sudden death and can
cause children to have trouble eating and breathing. Carmela has a 60-70% chance
of living to age 16 years old.
Let’s help Carmela fight this. It’s not too late to sign-up a team to join in or we’d love to raise some money to help Carmela.
Carmela has Muscular Dystrophy, a life-limiting disease, but she is an incredibly busy little girl with boundless amounts of energy and enthusiasm.
When not undertaking challenges to raise money or off-roading with her dog Tinker, she’s cooking up a storm in the kitchen or playing Power Chair football.
Follow her instagram @carmelachillerywatson for lots of fun and laughs.
We find out some unknown facts about our friend and all about her and her mum’s exciting new ventures.
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
Fierce.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to play Miss Crackles School with my carers.
If you could be an animal, which would you be & why?
A unicorn because their magical powers would mean I didn’t have to have Muscular Dystrophy.
What’s your favourite meal?
Roast Chicken.
What advice would you give to your parents?
No advice as they are perfect as they are ❤️.
Tell us about Rare n Roar
Rare N Roar is my new clothing brand to help fund research into my life limiting disease with Muscular Dystrophy UK, but also to help spread Rare Disease awareness with the caption for any Rare conditions. My mum created the name as my disease is rare, and Roar because I fight on. You can browse my suppliers shops via my website. www.carmelasstanduptomusculardystrophy.co.uk
You’ve been busy as we’re also heard about your book launching in June. What’s it about and where can we pre-order one?
My mummy has written a story about me and my therapy dog Tinker. It’s about the adventures we go on when it’s bedtime with the help of my magic words and Tinkers magical bottom puff, so I don’t need to use my wheelchair or walker. All profits will fund research in to my life-limiting disease with Muscular Dystrophy UK.
You can buy the book online via this link with Blue Poppy Publishers.
And lastly we’d love to know what fun things you’ve got planned for the summer.
My mummy and me are going on a road trip again where we will be seeing some of my social media followers, friends and family. We sleep in the back of the van with mattresses and cook on the camping stove under the van awning.
]]>Too often the focus is on what disabled people can’t do, not
what they can. I’m challenging that. I want to turn an appalling act of
terrorism into the complete opposite – bringing people together in a spirit of
hope.”
Martin Hibbert
We’re delighted to be sponsoring Martin Hibbert on his challenge to take the 2012 Paralympic torch to the summit of Kilimanjaro. It’s a seven-day expedition in September coinciding with the Paralympics in Tokyo.
Martin Hibbert and his daughter Eve were among 100s injured in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. Martin was paralysed from the waist down and now hopes to raise money for the charity that held his hand & helped him rebuild his life. That charity is the Spinal Injuries Association. When Martin heard that 7 people get a spinal injury every day, yet only 1 in 3 get to a specialist spinal unit, he was determined to raise awareness so that more can get the help they need. He also wants to turn what was a tragic event into a force for good.
He will be undertaking this massive feat in a Bowhead hand bike. Statistically only 65% of able-bodied people make it to the summit, so you can only imagine the challenge facing Martin.
We are making his down-filled trousers and removable boots to keep him warm and dry, and hope you join us in spreading the word and helping him raise much needed funds for Spinal Injury Association.
You can sponsor him here and support him in social media by following and sharing #martinsmountain.
Facebook: @SIAMartinsMountain
Instagram: @SIAMartinsMountain
Twitter: @SIA_Mountain
TikTok: @MartinsMountain
You Tube: Martin’s Mountain
]]>I think that as parents, baby sun safety is something that we all worry about. There really is nothing better than seeing your children out in the summer sun, but of course we want to keep them well protected too. There are several very easy things you can do to keep your little ones safe in the sun.
Use suncream, hats and glasses. Make sure the suncream you use is in date and offers a high level of UV and SPF protection. Personally, I like to use SPF 50 on my little ones, especially very young children. Ensure you use a good layer of suncream too, don’t be stingy when it comes to sun safety! Reapply after children have been in the water, even if using a water resistant cream. Suncream isn’t recommended by babies under 6 months old so please make sure they are kept completely in the shade or covered at all times.
Ensure your children wear hats at all times (easier said than done I know, but do persevere) and if possible, a pair of good sunglasses can protect young eyes.
Keep out of the sun during the hottest part of the day eg from 12-3pm. This doesn’t mean you need to go inside, but for ultimate sun safety, move out of the sun and into the shade. It’s a great excuse to sit and have a picnic (don’t forget to take a blanket with you!), play a game or even take an afternoon nap.
Use a buggy sunshade. It’s so easy to forget about the little ones in pushchairs, as you can be so focused on making sure older children are well covered and playing sensibly. Even with a large protective hood, babies can be exposed to the sun, so it’s important they are covered too. Using a good quality buggy sunshade that offers not only UV protection but a shady place to rest too is a must. Choose one that’s easy to store, quick to throw over the pushchair, and watch out for multipurpose options that can double up as blankets and changing mats too! Make sure your buggy sunshade or UV clothing boasts UPF 50+ (which blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays) anything less isn’t giving your little ones the protection they need.
Drink, drink, drink! This applies to all ages – parents too! I am always making sure my children drink enough but often forget to take my own advice and end up feeling headachey and tired by the middle of the day. Keep a bottle of water in the pushchair, another in the picnic bag and another somewhere else too, so that no matter where you are and what you are doing, there is always a bottle of water handy to keep sipping at. Sun safety isn’t just about protecting your skin, it’s about keeping the rest of your body hydrated and in top form too!
Most importantly of all, don’t forget to get out there any enjoy yourself in the sun! We all benefit hugely from being out in lovely weather and if you make sure you follow a few basic rules of baby sun safety there is no reason not to have fun in the sun with your whole family!
We developed the BundleBean Solarin response to customer demand for a product that would provide the maximum sun protection without blocking little ones’ view of the world and their parents. When used in conjuction with a buggy hood, sun hat and/or suncream for older children – it provides you with total peace of mind that your little one is safe in the sun and benefiting from incidental vitamin D exposure. It is made of a specially woven fabric that wicks away moisture and allows air flow to help keep baby cool and comfortable. It also come with a hooded beach towel that can be attached to the top layer for a cosy softness and warmth if needed. A beach essential!
]]>If you are unsure then we highly recommend looking up your local sling library where you will be able to try out different styles and even hire one for a trial period. Baby wearing is a personal thing, and not every style will suit everyone’s needs and lifestyle. If you can: try before you buy!
The School of Babywearing has a simple check list to make sure you are carrying correctly – it's called TICKS:
The main types of carrier / baby sling / baby wrap suitable for baby wearing are:
This type of carrier is the one seen most often on the high street. Always make sure when buying a carrier like this that your child’s legs are supported correctly eg in a frog position.
There are very simple fabric carriers that are worn over one shoulder. They are very easy to take on and off and can be used for all ages from a cradled new born, to a sitting up toddler!
Ring slings are adjusted by pulling the fabric through two rings. There are lots of independent individuals making these, so be sure to buy one that provides adequate support and never covers the babies face.
These are traditional Asian style carriers with a structured body panel. The baby can be worn front, back or on your hip and adjusted using the fabrics straps. Some people comment that these are a good halfway house between wrap style carriers and traditional buckle carriers.
These have a soft body panel but are fitted with easy to use and adjust straps with buckles. A great choice for someone who is looking for a quick and convenient baby wearing option and might be daunted by more complicated wrap styles. These all provide excellent support to the hips and knees of your baby.
These are long pieces of fabric that can be tied in a multitude of different ways.
Stretchy wraps can only be used for front carries, but woven wraps are incredibly versatile and can be used for front, back or hip carries. Both of these styles of carrier take a bit of practice.
These are absolutely fantastic for older children and for any family that enjoys walking and outdoor pursuits. They look like a traditional rucksack, with the baby sitting on your back facing forwards over your shoulder - giving them a great view of the world! They use a light metal frame and are worn with shoulder and waist straps.There is a huge price range with backpack carriers, and undoubtedly the ones at the upper end of the scale are better for carrying long distances. Baby backpacks are suitable from about 6/9 months up to three years.
There are several different kinds of product out there that are suitable for use to keep your babies warm when baby wearing:
We would ALWAYS recommend that you keep a hat on your baby in direct sunlight.
There are a few UV covers that will ensure your babies limbs are safely covered, which removes the need for harsh, chemical sun creams. Sun creams shouldn’t be used on any baby under the age of 6 months.
We think they are some of the best products for baby wearing and they have been carefully designed so that you can get the most out of them, even one days when you aren’t baby wearing.
Both products are fully versatile so as well as being perfect accompaniments to baby wearing, they can also be used on car seats, buggies and bike seats! The BundleBean Go unzips to make a great waterproof picnic rug or play mat
“People are frequently amazed when Bubby D is howling in her pushchair and wants to go in her sling, so I pop her in, then release what appears to be her footmuff and turn it into a snuggly and waterproof sling cover instead. Later when we arrive at whatever group or event we are going to, I whip that off, and suddenly it’s an instant playmat!.”
“I love my baby carrier but I do worry that he has no blanket on and now I own a bundle bean I don't need to worry. As well as having the added of pockets to keep my hands warm too. I love that it is waterproof and that say you nip to the park they can sit on it as too not get wet bums and then wrap them in it to keep them warm when all the playing has finished :D The blanket fold down really small so can be carried and transported easily.”
“I have been using a carrier with Oliver for a while now and I was wondering how I would keep him warm and dry in it in the winter but this works really well. I love that I can take him out even when it is wet and I am still able to carry him rather than putting him in a buggy under a rain cover”
“I wore my Spike for a long time last Winter because he was a born at the end of December. I struggled to find an affordable option for keeping him warm when my coat stopped being able to reach around him. With the BundleBean you simply create the pouch with the zips and attach it to the shoulder straps (or around your own neck) and you have a windproof, waterproof, warm cover for the baby.”
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