Disabled Haverhill student Aiden Thomas praised after completing his Duke of Edinburgh expedition with help from Nayland Mobility near Sudbury

A student has been praised for showing ‘extraordinary spirit of resilience’ after completing a Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) expedition - aided by a donated all-terrain mobility scooter.

Castle Manor Academy, in Haverhill, recently completed its 10th DoE Bronze expedition – with the milestone event taking on even greater importance thanks to the efforts of Year 10 student Aiden Thomas and the support of fellow students on the trek.

Aiden, 14, who has cerebral palsy which affects his mobility and makes walking difficult, has a standard scooter, designed for pavements and flat ground, but this would have been no match for the terrain that the group faced while trekking around Clare and surrounding villages.

But his hopes of taking part became real thanks to a kind donation of an all-terrain scooter from Nayland Mobility, near Sudbury.

Castle Manor teacher, Becky Baldwin said: “Any Duke of Edinburgh expedition poses a significant challenge for any teenager as they are hiking for six hours, carrying their kit and camping overnight.

“But Aiden’s journey stood out for its extraordinary spirit of resilience and community support.

“With the generous contribution from Nayland Mobility, Aiden was not only able to complete the expedition but to do so independently alongside his friends, making the weekend a memorable success.”

Becky also praised the support Aiden received from his fellow students with the team engaging in trial runs around the school grounds.

She added: “Aiden’s friends played a crucial role in the training, practicing how to guide the scooter over difficult terrain and narrow crossings such as footbridges.

“Their support was invaluable, showing that true friendship goes hand-in-hand with teamwork.

“I am so proud of all students and staff involved for working together to make this expedition possible.”

Reflecting on the weekend, Aiden, of Arrendene Road in Haverhill, added: “Without the scooter, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my DofE expedition and be with my friends.”

In August, Aiden featured in the Echo after his walking frame was lost by Ryanair when he flew to Madrid as part of a school trip.

The frame never arrived and was only returned to his home 23 days later.