Walking sticks and going out: Wendi, Michelle Pownell and Caitlin Cooper

Wendi: a first outing with a stick

Wendi, who shares travel videos as Wobblywendi, says she first used a walking stick on holiday. In an interview with Cool Crutches, she explains that being away made the change easier because she felt self-conscious around people she knew. Later she chose crutches whose appearance she liked and describes their handle grip as comfortable for her.

References: Cool Crutches

In her MS Trust account, Wendi says she uses a walking stick and turns to a manual wheelchair or scooter for longer distances. Her travel planning includes prioritising one sight in a day and arranging airport assistance. The MS Trust points readers to her Wobblywendi TikTok for travel videos.

References: MS Trust

In one outing video, Wendi chooses a walking stick with a handle that feels comfortable in her hand, then films the short walk to a waterside café. She shows the grip before setting off, takes her time along the promenade and stops at a bench before continuing. At the café she talks about how the handle and a pause worked for her on that day, then stays for a drink and the view.

Michelle Pownell: from clunking stick to a personal choice

Michelle Pownell began with her grandmother’s adjustable black stick, but its clunk on the ground prompted a replacement. Her next stick was an adjustable sparkly blue one; later she chose a made-to-measure blue stick with a clear ergonomic handle. She also describes a glittering stick she calls her going-out stick.

References: Platform Stories

Pownell says having aids that reflected her style made her more comfortable and confident using them. The choices changed both the object she carried and how she felt being seen with it. She shares disability and fashion content on Instagram as @michellepownell.

References: Platform Stories

Caitlin Cooper: walking home from class

Caitlin Cooper describes walking home from class on her first day with a stick, feeling awkward until another woman complimented the way it sparkled in the sun. She also recalls stares from people trying to reconcile her age with her aid.

References: The Oxford Blue

In her account, using the stick changed the aftermath of an ordinary walk: she says she no longer collapsed into bed after a 20-minute walk and was no longer confined to her room during flare-ups. Her essay makes the practical effect and the social adjustment visible together.

References: The Oxford Blue

Where to follow their work

For travel videos, Wendi’s TikTok is @wobblywendi; for disability and fashion imagery, Pownell identifies @michellepownell as her Instagram account. Cooper’s piece is a written personal essay, useful for its close account of a first day rather than a walking demonstration.

References: MS Trust · Platform Stories · Wobblywendi · Michelle Pownell

Sources and attribution

1. MS Trust

   Travelling with MS: finding freedom one journey at a timePublished Jun 30, 2025 · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

2. Platform Stories

   On the platform with Michelle PownellPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

3. The Oxford Blue

   New Ways of Being Stared At: Adjusting to Life with a Mobility AidPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

4. Cool Crutches

   The Ultimate Guide to Living with MS: Wendi's StoryPublished Nov 11, 2024 · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

5. Wobblywendi

   Wobblywendi on TikTokPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

6. Michelle Pownell

   Michelle Pownell on InstagramPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026