By Paul James via SWNS
A limb-different cyclist completed a 1,360km cycling route across Europe – using a prosthetic arm she helped create.
Sarah Fisher, 31, was born with a congenital limb difference, meaning her left arm didn’t develop fully at birth.
She fell in love with cycling and adventure sports at a young age including swimming in ice pools or climbing mountains.
Sarah’s latest challenge has seen her cycle from Holland to Prague – a distance of around 845 miles – in just 13 days.
She did it with the aid of an innovative new type of prosthetic arm she helped design and which is named in her honor.
Sarah, from Fife, Scotland, commented: “I absolutely love cycling.
”It was an incredible experience to travel through three counties by bike, meeting loads of people and seeing things you wouldn’t see any other way.
”My boyfriend came with me and we camped out, so we could just pack up and get going each morning.
”The tent became our little home from home. And I’ve never ate so many Schnitzels in my life!”
Sarah added: “I never thought I’d managed to cycle that kind of distance.
”All the prosthetics I had tried before caused me pain, especially on longer rides and in the heat. I’d get swelling and bruising from wearing them.
”But with the new tool, I forget I’m even wearing it!”
Despite trying many different solutions over the years, Sarah always struggled to find anything that worked for her, especially when it came to cycling longer distances.
The prosthetics and tools she did find were uncomfortable, heavy, rubbed on her skin and didn’t provide the strength and grip she needed.
She began working with London-based prosthetics innovator, Koalaa, on a new type of prosthetic that could handle the unique movements involved with cycling.
Nate Macabuag, founder of Koalaa, added: “It was a fantastic experience working with Sarah and having the input of world-class para-athletes to test and feedback on the design too was just incredible.”
Koalaa prosthetics are available across the world and support independence at every stage of life, from young babies through to the elderly.
They are designed to aid accessibility and wellbeing, helping users with tasks in their every day and working lives, as well as to pursue sports and hobbies.
They are used by children and adults with limb differences globally, including in developing and war-torn regions, with the company having developed the world’s first ‘early rehab’ prosthetic arm, which can be used just hours after surgery.
