Tell them about yourself, Tom, they said, so I suppose I'd better start at the beginning

I started life in 1997 when an engineer called Bob invented me for his son.

The first time we met was a bit special, I can tell you!

It was the first time I'd been outside the workshop and Tom's first real trike ride. He rang the bell and waved a lot and I saw the countryside for the very first time. It was beautiful.

We cycled for two whole miles and that was a special achievement for Tom because he doesn't like walking very far, apparently!

Tom doesn't understand about steering or braking of course, because he's got something called profound and multiple learning difficulties but that doesn't stop us getting out and about, because I've got something called Carer Control.

It's all a bit technical of course but I've got a control handle at the back for Tom's mum and when she moves it left or right, I steer left or right and when she pulls it back, my brakes go on! Clever isn't it!

That's us next to the church by the way!

Mum relies on me a lot now. We go to places she might think twice about without me. She knows Tom's safe of course and he gets a lot of pleasure from what we do because he's achieving something himself. I think that's very important, don't you? Since those early days I've helped lots and lots of kids with special needs but do you know something! Each one is different! They've all got their own problems and difficulties, some big, some small. Bob says he can't change the boy or girl but he can always change me and that's why I'm always different too.

Take Jeremy for example

...That's him with mum, dad and me. Jeremy can't sit up on his own, so Bob gave me a special backrest with a waistcoat to keep his spine straight and his head up. Jeremy's got very low tone too, so I've got special gearing and my frames are made just for him, otherwise it might not work. Of course I'm the lightest trike available! That's why I'm so easy to pedal. It makes sense when you think about it! I mean - who ever won the tour de France on a grocer's bike!

Smart in Blue isn't it!

Talking about France, I've been about a bit, I can tell you! Day trips, holidays, school runs and shopping. You name it, I've done it and often instead of the wheelchair! I mean who'd want to be pushed in a wheelchair when they could be just as safe and have lots more fun on a trike. It's my two-piece frame that makes it all possible apparently. I come apart in two separate bits and I'm not kidding... blink and you'll miss it! It's a good idea I suppose but I'm always afraid they'll leave half of me behind!

That's me in the car

Sometimes we go to Hospitals and places like that and I hear Bob talking to Physiotherapists or Paediatricians about me and I know I'll soon be off to help a very special boy or girl. On that first day with Tom I though I was just a toy but now I've helped so many children I know I'm much more than that, because I can change their lives. Perhaps they've been ill or they need to build up their strength, just as Cloe does, to help them walk.

Cloë and me at the greengrocers

Perhaps they need to be kept calm, or safe, or take exercise or perhaps they can't see and they need my carer control to help them steer. Perhaps they're a handful and need wearing out so mum and dad can get more sleep! Bob says that no matter what the problem, I can help because children love me and all he has to do is make it possible for them to succeed and they will succeed, because human nature is a wonderful thing. I don't think about my job much, I just get on with it but they've got this slogan for me at Tomcat. It says 'Very special trikes for very special kids'. When I help a boy or girl do something incredible, well... that's when I realise I've got the most special job in the whole world!