A WOMAN who took on a 10-bridge test on her mobility scooter is celebrating after smashing her charity challenge.
Nada Shawa, from Edinburgh, planned the scootathon to raise funds for specialist charity Freedom From Torture.
The organisation provides expert medical help and support to asylum seekers and refugees, and is the only body of its kind in Scotland.
Nada, originally from Gaza, had aimed to make £2000 for the Glasgow centre by crossing 10 Clyde bridges in one afternoon.
She achieved her goal on Saturday, raising almost £2700 – more than 130 per cent of her target sum.
The feat took place two years after Nada, who has cerebral palsy, tackled the Forth Road Bridge using her mobility aid in a bid to support torture and abuse survivors in Scotland.
Saturday’s challenge took in the Millennium Bridge, Bell’s Bridge, the Clyde Arc, Tradeston Bridge and George V Bridge.
It also included the Glasgow Bridge, South Portland Street Suspension Foot Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Albert Bridge and St Andrew’s Suspension Bridge.
Green councillor Christy Mearns, who backed the fundraiser, got on her bike to ride with Nada to the first bridge, later calling the day “inspiring”.
Nada, who suffers chronic pain, was also met by supporters at the People’s Palace museum in the east end of the city. Reflecting on the success yesterday, she commented: “It’s been absolutely unbelievable.
“The pain depends upon the terrain, but the bridges were pretty smooth. I was just feeling elation.”
She went on: “I chose to do a scootathon because my scooter gives me a sense of freedom, feeling the wind and the sun. I want that to be felt by others, they have every right to feel that freedom.
“I’m so grateful to those who supported me.”
Nada is a member of the Freedom From Torture Edinburgh Local Group, which raises awareness of the needs of torture survivors living in Scotland and raises funds for the charity.
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