INTRODUCING THE NEW SEATRAC 
access into the sea

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for ALL and a pool with hoist

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Cyprus Sunday Mail - Wheelies for Hire

If you struggle round the home or are in need of some temporary assistance, there is a company in Paphos that hires out scooters, wheelchairs and other devices for the disabled. JILL CAMPBELL MACKAY reports

THE dictionary definition of the word ‘disabled’ is when someone or something is deprived of power. Most of us, at some time in our life, will have experienced a temporary disability, having been deprived of the power to walk due to suffering a broken leg, or sprained

Others, like Chris Neophytou, are permanently disabled and are confined to a wheelchair. It’s this state of long-term immobility that resulted in Chris turning what was a physical catastrophe into a thriving business opportunity.
GC Para-quip was set up by Chris to help others with disabilities, supplying a wide range of specially-designed equipment to help achieve a level of independence both in and outside the home. But how did it all start?

“I was in my wheelchair waiting in the foyer of a local hotel, when this German tourist asked if I knew anyplace where he could hire a wheelchair for his wife as she had just fallen down on some rocks, twisting her ankle. Sadly, I couldn’t help him, as before this venture began, there was no place you could hire equipment on a temporary basis. That’s when I started to see that I could turn my disability into something that could help others, and, at the same time give me a living.” Chris’ company now offers everything from the hire of mobility scooters, manual and electric wheelchairs, shower commode, electric hoists, walkers, and lots of other pieces of equipment that go to making make life that bit easier for the disabled.

“We have also converted our family holiday apartments to become totally accessible for wheelchair users and now welcome tourists from all over Europe who come here, knowing they will not only be well cared for but more importantly, they will be safe and also have a great holiday.”
Chris organises tours with the help of a specially converted minibus come taxi which is adapted with an electric tail lift, meaning visitors can be collected with ease from the airport and then taken to their holiday apartment. Repairs can also be made on the spot if anyone gets a ‘spoke in their wheels’ and Chris will deliver his equipment all over the island just like any regular hire company.

One thing people don’t realise is that despite many peoples’ disability there are still plenty of opportunities for them to take part in activities supposedly designed solely for the able bodied.

Chris organises swimming in the sea off the side of a specially adapted boat, and even offers paragliding, which he is particularly addicted to, having previously admitted to being a bit of an adrenalin junkie at heart.

FOR LESS THAN 100.00GBP FOR ONE WEEK (WHICH INCLUDES DELIVERY AND COLLECTION TO A PAPHOS HOTEL) YOU CAN RENT A STANDARD or COLLAPSIBLE MOBILITY SCOOTER OR A POWER WHEELCHAIR ONE WEEK €108.00 or TWO WEEKS €180.00

Pafos & Larnaca airport transfers

These two opportunities are for sale


Brand new and immediate purchase

Mobility scooter
with new steering & touch panel

800w motor, 14kph
€2900.00

Power wheelchair 
Enigma Energi (blue)
450w motor, 6kph
€2500.00

MEDIA ARTICLES..

Cyprus Sunday Mail 11/2010 - When Christos Neophytou realised the full extent of his growing disability, he turned it into a business idea.

The now wheelchair bound 48-year-old, set up C and A holiday apartments in Polis around 10 years ago along with the help of his family. The apartments are suitable for all guests, but are specially designed for people with a disability. The roomy bedrooms have all the equipment necessary for a less able-bodied person, such as rails on both sides of the toilet. There is a purpose-built hoist by the side of the swimming pool to help lower guests into the water, and even the sun beds are slightly raised so anyone in a wheelchair can slide onto them.

His efforts for a section of society still so poorly catered for was acknowledged last week at an awards ceremony in Nicosia. Organised by the Confederation of the Organisation of the Disabled, he was the only one of four recipients to receive a business award.

Neophytou suffers from Friedreich’s Ataxia, a neurological inherited degenerative disease which attacks the central nervous system and causes movement problems. The disease usually presents itself during a sufferer’s teens or a little later. Neophytou was 18 when he went for tests and was subsequently diagnosed with the disease. One of the main symptoms is a lack of coordination, resulting in the sufferer not being about to walk well.

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DISABILITY NOW 2/2009 - There are a number of companies that specialise in holidays for disabled people – renting equipment, providing airport transfers and excursions in adapted transfer vehicles, accessible accommodation and whatever personal support you may need during a stay in Cyprus.

A keen ambassador for exploring Cyprus as a disabled person is Chris Neophytou. Chris has used a wheelchair since his late 20s and created the first holiday complex specially designed for wheelchair-users and their families in Polis, one of the most attractive and fastest growing seaside resorts. Located on the north-west coast of Cyprus (though still in the southern Republic), Polis is close to the Akamas Peninsula and the harbour village Latchi.

As Chris says: “I knew from experience how difficult it is for wheelchair-users to find a place they could go to for a holiday; a place where they felt safe and where they had a sense of freedom. I used my own experience and knowledge as a disabled person to create the perfect holiday place: that’s the key really, giving people pleasure, but within a safe and friendly environment.

“For those seeking the thrill of a new adventure, parasailing, snorkelling and scuba diving are all possible, as is swimming in the Med. We have a glass-bottomed boat with a ramp and hoist to get people into the sea. Here in Cyprus, almost anything is possible.”

Polis has relatively good pedestrian areas and there is little traffic, so it’s safe to use the road wherever the pavement is not suitable for wheelchairs. Many public buildings, like the archaeological museum and some restaurants have adapted access for disabled visitors.

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NEW PATHWAYS 7/2009 - We recently went to Polis, Cyprus and stayed once more at the magnificent C & A Tourist Apartments  www.ca-tourist-apts.com.cy and were once again bowled over by the extreme the family has gone to in providing such a haven for mobility impaired clients.

They have built a new extension which houses extremely spacious one and two bedroom apartments sleeping 2 to 5 people.  They have interconnecting doors with separate kitchenette and roll in shower. There’s a large dining area in the main entrance of the building if you didn’t want to go totally self catering.  They do fantastic breakfast and evening meals, BBQ/Greek nights on site.

If any reader contacts C & A Tourist Apts and speaks with Chris, one of the proprietors, he has a disability that causes him to have a speech impediment, and he has happily agreed that I can leave my details with you and if a member wants to speak to me and ask more, I am happy to help.  baileyhague@yahoo.co.uk

Best wishes,

Dawn and Pete Bailey-Hague

For more articles in newspapers,
magazine and newsletters written by guests
 

A FEW GUESTBOOK COMMENTS..

Dear Chris
I would like to say thank you for providing a scooter for my mother from 22 September to 11 October 2010. The scooter was delivered to the Bougainvillea Apartments in Polis as requested and was also collected by you at the end of our stay.  The scooter proved to be of invaluable assistance as it enabled my mother to more easily get out and about during the day and also to go up to the square in the
evenings for our evening meals.  We wouldn't hesitate to use your company again.
Kind regards.
Mrs N Brooke

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"The James family, 2 able-bodied and Adrian in a wheelchair.  An excellent holiday starting from the time the booking was done via Chris (excellent communication) on the Internet.  Have plenty of confidence in Andreas, who did a superb job of transporting us all from Paphos airport to Polis and back in a specially adapted vehicle.  He was extremely friendly, and a mine of information, informing us that there was little he could not do within his "department" in the family-run business. On arrival at Eva’s Apartments we were made to feel most welcome initially by Chris and his mother Eva and soon after by the remainder of this lovely Cypriot family, not forgetting Kumar who was always around and so helpful in every way"

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"I would like to say a big thanks to yourself, Andreas & Hurula (excuse spelling) for making our holiday in Cyprus so straightforward and enjoyable.  I am a C3 quadriplegic on full-time ventilation and my requirements are not straightforward, however your excellent transportation service, electric hoist hire and overall provision of service was excellent, I was also very impressed by the quality of the actual equipment and transport.  Although disabled as mentioned I am very active and your company and family managed to provide a great transportation service (often at very short notice) to get me everywhere from the water park in Paphos to Coral Bay and beyond.  I would highly recommend your company and look forward to meeting you all again on our next visit Cyprus"

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"Just wanted to say how impressed we were with the efficiency of your company. Andreas picked us up from the airport and took us to Kefalos Beach Village giving us lots of useful information on the way. We hadn't been sure whether to hire a scooter or not but on arrival decided to do so and Andreas delivered it to us the next morning. It made such a difference to our holiday. We then arranged an excursion with Andreas and he took so much care to make sure he met our needs and we had a wonderful day"

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"We would like to thank you for yet another year of great service from both your company and your family, delivery & collection of the electric scooter was stress free & made such a difference to our holiday.
Thank you again, we look forward to booking with you in future years.
Kindest Regards.
Mrs Hannah Elliott (on Behalf of Mr & Mrs Rosser) May 2009 Coral Beach Hotel, Coral Bay"

 

For more guestbook comments

 

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