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Hazel: From Darkness to Light (and meeting her hero: Tracy Moseley)

We first met Hazel in 2022 during a really challenging time for her and her family. Her Dad, Lucas, happened upon our Trail Therapy while scrolling the internet to try and find help. Three years on we catch up with Hazel and her hero, Tracy Moseley, to launch a film about her journey and see just how she is doing.

Hazel

A Trek Blog written by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland

In 2022, Hazel and her family were facing a difficult time. Hazel lives with a rare skin condition, xeroderma pigmentosum, which means exposure to UV light can have serious, long-term consequences. To stay safe, Hazel must cover her skin completely and wear a visor to protect her face.The condition took its toll on Hazel’s confidence and mental health. Leaving the house became harder, and her dad, Lucas, searched desperately for ways to support her. That’s when he discovered our Trail Therapy programme, that supports people experiencing periods of metal ill-health using mountain biking to accelerate and sustain their recovery. He sent a speculative email in the hope that this might be able to help Hazel.

At the time the Trail Therapy team in DMBinS were receiving funding from Trek, Scottish MTB Health Fund and Nature Scot and, as it was winter and delivery was quieter, there was an opportunity to do something quite special.

Together with Hazel and Lucas, the DMBinS Trail Therapy team created a unique plan: if daylight was the problem, why not start riding at night?Watch this uplifting story of resilience, innovation, and the healing power of bikes.

Film by DWACO Agency

The film was shot in 2023, it was featured as part of the Kendal Mountain Festival – Trek Bike Night in 2023 and in 2024 the film inspired people around the world as it toured New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, and the UK as part of the Big Bike Film Night. Hazel’s story went global.

But, most importantly, how is Hazel doing now?

Hazel

I am doing really well. I am loving riding my bike and racing at the mini-DH final at Fort William started a love for racing. Last year I was part of the CRC Female Youth Race Team and I enjoyed racing enduro events across the country. I still love getting out to ride and have met so many new friends from mountain biking.

Hazel

Image - Pete Scullion

Lucas

The difference between now and when Hazel started Trail Therapy has been amazing. Her confidence has grown, her mental health is in a completely different and better place, and the opportunities she has had to visit brilliant and beautiful places and meet incredible people has been transformational. As a family, we went from a really challenging time to now Hazel, and the rest of the family, being in a great place.

As well as the great times we have had with Paul and Christine (the DMBinS Trail Therapy team), Carrie (the key volunteer supporting the programme), and together as a family through mountain biking. It has also added a whole new social network for Hazel and our family. It almost seems like a wider extended family when we turn up at bike events.

Also, the opportunity that Trek have given us to meet one of Hazel’s heroes, Tracy Moseley, is simply amazing – we are blown away by the impact that Trail Therapy has had on our family.

Hazel Lucas and TMO

Image - Pete Scullion

Tracy Moseley was also delighted to meet up with Hazel and Lucas at the Fort William Mountain Film Festival.

Tracy Moseley

I first met Hazel and Lucas at the Kendal Bike Night to see the premiere of the film. The film and their story reinforced the impact that mountain biking can have on people and their families.

To see Hazel’s progression from building confidence through night riding, getting into racing through mini-DHs – a great way to start your racing journey, and then now regularly competing at enduros across the UK.

More importantly, it has been great to meet such a confident, fun, and happy young woman who obviously loves riding bikes and meeting new people. It was my pleasure to spend time with them, ride bikes, and just enjoy the company of a really nice and genuine family.

Hazel and TMO

Image - Pete Scullion

Hazel and TMO3

Image - Pete Scullion

Trail Therapy is run by Christine Fox, who is the DMBinS MTB Health Programmes Manager, she said about working with Hazel and the future of Trail Therapy.

Christine Fox

Hazel and her family are truly inspiring! From the minute we met Hazel and suggested night riding with Trail Therapy and she just turned to her dad and they both just went ‘yeah, let's try that’, I knew this was going to be a special journey for all of us. To see Hazel now, this confident, smiley young woman who also happens to be an ace downhill rider, it’s hard to imagine this has all happened in the space of only 3 years! The film by DWACO really captures the change we have seen in Hazel in a way words on paper can’t.

We would like also to thank Trek, our other funders, and people who donate to the Scottish MTB Health Fund, it would not be possible for us to run Trail Therapy without their ongoing support.

Since the film has been developed, the Trail Therapy programme has evolved to enable us to be better placed to help meet the increasing need of the many organisations and communities from across Scotland, who want to access this programme. Our delivery model now supports, mentors and trains those communities and organisations to set themselves up as ‘Trail Therapy Hubs’, led by the community, responding to the needs of the community. We have hubs across Scotland and now, internationally including Norway and Switzerland. It’s a model that enables us to spread the life changing impact of this programme to more people.

Hazel and TMO riding

Image - Pete Scullion

Hazel lucas and TMO Riding

Image - Pete Scullion

If you have an organisation that would like to set up as a Trail Therapy Hub then contact DMBinS at info@DMBinS.com

For more information, visit our webpages on Trail Therapy.

If you can, please consider supporting Trail Therapy through a donation to the Scottish MTB Health Fund

Thanks to all those who support Trail Therapy, it wouldn't happen without Trek Bicycles, Outride, NatureScot, Edinburgh Napier University, and all those who donate to the MTB Health Fund.

Mental Health is not an illness

Are you looking for help in a crisis? If you need an ambulance call 999

The Samaritans helpline is 116 123 and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Calls can be made anytime, from any phone. All calls are confidential.

The Breathing Space helpline is open Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am and Weekends: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am - All calls are confidential - 0800 83 85 87

If your GP is not available, you can call NHS 24 by dialling 111

You can also call the police, your emergency social work team or emergency community mental health team.

If you can, please consider donating to the Scottish MTB Heath Fund and help us with our work in this space. Thank you.

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If you can, please consider donating to the Scottish MTB Heath Fund and help us with our work in this space. Thank you.

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