There are moments in life when the world asks us to slow down - not to stop, not to surrender, but to rediscover ourselves in a different rhythm. A story of resilience shaped not by grand gestures, but by the quiet courage to keep moving forward when the path changes beneath your feet. It’s about finding freedom in a form you never expected, and learning that sometimes the most beautiful journeys begin when you choose a new way to move.

For Darren, that new way came with three wheels, a low-slung frame, and a perspective that shifted everything. An ICE Trike isn’t just a machine; it’s a reminder that strength can look different, that joy can be reclaimed, and that freedom can roll back into your life in the most surprising ways. 

Darren's Ghan

I’ve been working out regularly since Labour Day, 1982. As I write this, I am 58 years old. About when I turned 50 I started having trouble walking. I wasn’t dizzy, but I was light-headed. My symptoms stumped every doctor that I saw. Then, while doing my regular morning run on my elliptical machine in late spring/early summer of 2023, I started experiencing discomfort in my upper chest. I didn’t think much of it because I had been working out for so many years that I was in pretty good shape. I thought it was just heart burn. This went on for about a week when the discomfort turned into searing pain. A heart specialist determined, after a lot of testing, that I had blocked arteries

An inheritance from my grandfather! I went into Toronto General Hospital on Sept. 13, 2023 for a procedure to unblock my arteries. During the procedure, I died on the operating room table. The medical team revived me (obviously) and after a short stay in the hospital, I was able to go home, but I was still having trouble walking. I continued to go see doctors, but now, since my symptoms were no longer mixed with the symptoms of blocked arteries, it was possible to diagnose me.  I was diagnosed with Spastic Paraplegia Type 7. Spastic Paraplegia Type 7 (“SPG7”) is caused by a genetic mutation that is passed on from parents to their children. It is also sometimes called hereditary spastic paraplegia type 7 (“HSPG7”)

SPG7 leads to problems with balance and coordination, as well as leg spasms and weakness. I am able to control large muscle movements in my legs (such as peddling), but I have lost fine muscle control (including the automatic muscle control that allows you to stand and walk normally). After the diagnosis, my son introduced me to trikes. I tried one and immediately bought my Adventure and never looked back. Not only has given me the freedom that I otherwise would have lost, but it is a lot of fun. I love it and recommend it to everyone, even if you’re able-bodied.

Darren purchased his trike through one of our amazing Canadian dealers, Hamilton Trike!

In the end, this story isn’t really about a tricycle at all. It’s about what happens when you refuse to let life’s detours define you. It’s about choosing motion over fear, curiosity over limitation, and joy over the weight of what was lost.