Noel Muddiman

In its Silver Jubilee year, the Motability Scheme now has almost 400,000 customers, one of whom is Michael McGrath. His vehicle has enabled him to retain his independence and mobility; something the majority of us take for granted

Michael has Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting disease. He was featured last year in Lifestyle [The Magazine For Motability Scheme Customers – Autumn 2002, Issue 37] after reaching the North Pole in an extraordinary display of courage and determination. Today, Michael aims to become the first disabled person in the world to have reached both North and South Poles. He is currently planning an ambitious project called pole2pole that will see him conquer the South Pole in January 2004 and in doing so, promote global awareness towards those with muscle disorders including Muscular Dystrophy

Despite his busy schedule of weekly meetings, conference calls and speaking engagements, his recently established charity is testament to the driven, single-minded approach that I know has been his hallmark of success and which Motability applauds wholeheartedly. Despite the limitations of his condition and the slow reduction in his mobility, Michael remains focused and extremely upbeat about the future. As a positive role model for disabled people, Michael reminds us all that it's about what we can do, not what we can't do

Motability was formed in 1977, with all party support, under the Chairmanship of the late Lord Goodman and Vice-Chairman (now Chairman) Lord Sterling. As the UK's leading car scheme provider, the charity today helps disabled people like Michael and their families to become mobile

Since the first Motability car took to the road back in 1978, over 1.5 million cars and wheelchairs have been provided through the Motability Scheme, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people and their families

The future for Michael, disabled motorists and their families is growing steadily brighter with every passing year