"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning."
This is what stuck to me from everything I saw the people at Project Mobility doing. Bit by bit, the team that started converting Land Rovers for injured Royal Army men got to change the lives of people who lost in the fight to protect their country. But, why should I present an idea when we can talk with Countess Sally Povolotsky, founder of this brilliant project.
How did this idea come to you?
When it was the poppy day in the UK in 2009, watching people buying poppies, i wondered what is done to actually help those injured through IEDs and those who have had limb loss through an incident or accident. Myself and a few Land Rover addicts discussed the idea of getting in touch with the army to see if we could organize a green laning day to take some of the injured out, and it expanded from there when we were contacted by LCPL Ben Hilton and Sgt. Mark Clyde. Ben was a Land Rover fan and a new double amputee due to a double IED explosion in Afghanistan. We set about helping Ben convert his own car and it scaled upwards from there
Where you the one who first put it to practice?
I was the founder, and proudly take on that role today driving it forwards and being one of the spokespeople for the organization.
What is it that your project actually does?
We help troops get mobile again, and also it's open to all amputees to get involved. We adapt and convert earlier Defenders and Discos to be user friendly to those without limbs - utilizing a simple hand control kit we create vehicles for use from expeditions and offroad racing to driver training and gentle green laning. The project plans to create a workshop where the conversions can be carried out as part of the rehabilitation program or even for post discharge skill building as well as an expeditions company.
How did you get the Land Rovers involved?
We rely on either finding some older vehicles in good condition that can be fixed up or we have done 2 complete chassis rebuilds. With a Defender we need to convert it to automatic, and due to the cost we have started looking at 300tdi automatic Discoveries, we have just done 2 of these
What is the role they play in your organization?
Its all about the Land Rovers, they provide the vessel for independence, adventure and experience for the injured to drive, as one 'user' said "when I am in the Land Rover no-one knows I don't have any legs, its great to have that freedom". We modify them depending on the need and function for the vehicle once it has been decided by the group, we work with individuals, have a loan fleet as well as a retained fleet. The conversions are done where-ever we can get the space, lately at Rospeath garage in Penzance under the watchful eye of ex-Royal Marine Alec Savery, but also Northants 4x4 response have jumped on board and are doing a v8 Discovery at one of their members farm!
We tend to maintain the chassis, look at the suspension and replace it with Allmakes / Terrafirma, then the brakes, pads and discs and wheels and tires. As mentioned before it depends on the after use of the vehicle as to the amount of modification. The hand control kit is multi user friendly and simply can be removed depending on the injuries of the driver.
Please tell me a little bit about yourself? Did you begin this project as a result of somebody close to you being a war veteran?
I am an ex disabilities nurse and director of Mammouth 4x4 trading ltd, the home of Mammouth Premium chequerplate, being linked into the UK 4x4 industry i wanted to help make a difference rather than simply giving parts for auctions or charity runs. Through one of our distributors Allmakes 4x4 Ltd. we gained a major corporate sponsor that has helped us massively with parts and accessories to make the conversions easier.
The project has become all consuming and being able to 'convert' guys to Land Rover addicts is always a smiley moment! I have always had friends in the forces but this has been a new world, with a different language to learn, but massively rewarding.
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I thought the letter you guys received from the from the Minister of State for the Armed Forces was brilliant. It is, once again, a good recognition of the part that each one of us plays in society and the role that Rovers play where it really matters. Can you tell me a bit more about the letter?
The Minister for the Armed Forces is from Devon which is where Project Mobility is based, and where i live. We got talking to someone who volunteers for the MP who passed on information about what we do, recognition is always nice, but faceless, its changing someone's life that is more rewarding. After all we can get guys driving quicker than they can get onto prosthetics, giving back instant independence from behind a wheel!
You can find out more, volunteer or donate for their cause at www.projectmobility4x4.org
