Brief History
Since our first hand propelled tricycle was conceived and produced in 1970 for a local charity, Theraplay has sought to design and manufacture stylish cycles which are appealing to children and adults of all ages.
By 1974, the manufacture of cycles had over-taken the demand for precision components being manufactured so it was decided tore-name the company TRIAID Ltd (Tricycle Aids to Mobility), to reflect the company's growing involvement in the healthcare industry. In 1975 a worldwide patent was awarded for the key unique features of the Thistle hand cycle. Shortly afterwards, the company was awarded a national contract to supply the NHS as the sole supplier of hand cycles which was retained until the mid-1990’s when funding cut-backs within the NHS led to the decision to stop the free issue of cycles to children and adults with disabilities.
Throughout the second half of the 1970's, many Thistle hand cycles were produced for export, with the majority destined for Western Europe or North America. This led to the establishment of distribution partners in various countries, many of these partnerships are still flourishing today.