Latest news with #Luci
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Doctors told a dad his daughter would never walk on her own. He built a way to get her on the trails.
LJ Wilde always felt he one day would use his background in mechanical engineering to enrich his daughter Luci's life. "I didn't know what for," Wilde said. "I just felt it." What he didn't know was just how many lives he eventually would change. Two years after she was born, doctors told the Hyrum, Utah, resident that Luci would likely never be able to walk on her own due to a rare genetic disorder, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. When he learned this, his mind immediately raced to the challenges his family might face in the future. Coming from a family that prioritized spending time in the mountains and outdoors, one of the biggest concerns was how Luci's mobility would affect their ability to continue those adventures together, especially when she got bigger. For a while, Luci's challenges didn't stop his family from getting outside. Wilde would carry her in a pack or, at times, firefighter-style over his shoulders. That is, until they were hiking up Blacksmith Fork Canyon, outside of Hyrum, when Luci was about 7 and she started saying she was uncomfortable. For the first time, the family had to turn around and cut the hike short. As Wilde made his way down the trail, Luci resting on his shoulders, his thoughts raced with questions. Would this mean Luci no longer could join the family on hikes? Would it mean the end of hiking altogether for his family? "I thought both options sucked, quite frankly," Wilde said. "So, I was just like, 'I'm going to change this right now.' Before I was even back to the car, I had in my mind how I wanted to do it." When Wilde got home, he immediately began sketching ideas for a tandem hiking cart that would allow his daughter to comfortably enjoy the outdoors. He envisioned a chair-type design that could be pulled by another person. In the summer of 2019, Wilde worked on designing what he eventually named the Cascade. Then life happened, and the parts he had created for the cart sat disassembled in his garage for three years. During that time, his family didn't go on a single hike together. One afternoon, he decided he didn't want to keep looking at his failed experiment and decided to take it to the dump. But something made him stop. "I got halfway outside with it, and I just got hit with a ton of bricks," Wilde said. "It was just like, 'That's a really bad idea. Just finish it.'" So, in early 2023, Wilde hired a welder to assemble the parts he had designed, hoping the cart would be ready for Luci to use on an upcoming trip to Grand Teton National Park. It would be. The Cascade looks like a heavily modified mountain bike that was cut in half, with a large tire capable of tackling rugged terrain, a chair for someone to ride on and a harness that attaches to the person pulling the cart. In June of that year, Wilde and his family went on their first hike together in three years to the park's Hidden Falls, with Wilde pulling Luci in his invention as they wound through huckleberry bushes. From that moment on, Wilde knew the device would eliminate many barriers for his family. "I was thinking that it's good to be outdoors," Luci, now 12, said of her first excursion. Only minutes into the hike, a woman pushing a wheelchair on the trail approached the family and asked about the Cascade. "She comes up to me and is like, 'I need to know what that's called,'" Wilde said. "And I said, 'I don't have a name for it. I just made it in my garage. And she says, 'Well, would you make another one?'" The prospect of commercializing something he made for his daughter seemed far-fetched to Wilde, so he declined, apologized to the woman and went on his way. It wasn't the only encounter he had that day with someone who was interested in the Cascade. "The whole time we hiked," Wilde said, "we almost couldn't hike, because we would go a little ways, and then somebody would stop us and be like, 'Oh my gosh, what is that thing? I have a neighbor. I have a niece.'" Still, Wilde couldn't help but remember all the time and hard work that went into creating the first one. When he got home and couldn't stop thinking about all the people he met on the hike and the lives he could help, something shifted inside him. That summer, he and his wife, Jana, decided it would be right for him to quit his job to focus on making the Cascade a reality for other families. At the time, Jana was pregnant with the couple's sixth child. "I had health insurance," Wilde said. "I had an income that was just the same every month. It was comfortable. This is not comfortable, but I love every minute of it because of the people that we serve. It's not just the people that we serve, it's my own family. It's my own daughter." In March 2024, Wilde launched his North Logan outdoor accessibility company, Huckleberry Hiking, and has since sold more than 1,000 Cascades to families in similar situations to his, across all 50 states and in 22 countries. Within the first 24 hours of Huckleberry Hiking's launch, nearly 400 people bought the cart. Wilde said the families he's met and the stories he's heard are what kept him going, even after facing multiple bumps in the road. "I wasn't OK with the status quo," Wilde said. "And then I marched forward, with my wife kind of pushing me from behind. And then an army of people joined us and just facilitated the rest to be able to happen." Huckleberry Hiking will be moving to a larger facility in Cache Valley this month to produce the Cascades. Its 800-square-foot space in North Logan has become too small. Looking ahead, Wilde envisions his business expanding to address other accessibility needs across various industries. His next goal is to add an electric assist to the Cascade, making steep hills easier for the person pulling the cart. "I just know the barriers it's broken for us," Wilde said. "It's literally taken limits away. It's really hard to find the limits anymore. We can just go with her wherever we want to go. If we can hike there, I can get her there." When 14-year-old Phippin Tingey first rode in a Cascade cart on a mountain trail, he felt like he was flying. "Like you're Zelda going through the woods trying to hunt for monsters and trying to defeat them," he said. "Or feeling like I'm free, and I don't have to do anything." Phippin, who has a genetic disease that caused him to lose mobility in his legs, said that when his condition progressed in early 2023, he began experiencing cabin fever. Hiking with friends and family had always been one of his favorite activities, but due to his size and condition, it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to join. "I want to go outside," Phippin said, "and do things." Around the same time, Wilde was gauging interest in his invention and shared information within Cache Valley about allowing others to try it. Phippin's mother, Emily, was immediately interested. She soon discovered Wilde lived in their Hyrum neighborhood, and he brought over a Cascade for Phippin to try in their front yard. After seeing how affordable and useful the Cascade was, the Tingeys became one of the first 50 people to purchase a prototype. Since then, Phippin and his family have been going on weekly Friday hikes, something Emily said has brought a noticeable shift in their energy and family dynamic. "It was huge for us," Emily said. "It brought a lot of happiness and quality of life back." And Phippin said the cart has helped break his cabin fever. "Being able to catch up with other kids in my wheelchair and in the cart," he said, "makes me feel like I belong with other kids." The first time Angela Dugan took the Cascade cart on a hike with her 17-year-old daughter, Kaelyn, who has cerebral palsy, the wind was knocked out of her. Not just because she was hiking uphill in Boulder, Colorado, where Wilde was on a tour in 2024 with the Cascade to reach more families, but also because of how much she knew the cart would change her family's life. "It was so important," Dugan said, "for me to feel that again with my kid." Dugan said she had tried every accessible hiking chair on the market for Kaelyn, whom she described as a daredevil interested in trying almost anything outdoors. Most of the chairs didn't make the cut. They were either too clunky, couldn't handle rough terrain, or were too expensive. While some hiking chairs can cost as much as $10,000, the Cascade cart is normally priced at $2,500. When she heard about the Cascade during Wilde's tour, she bought it on the spot. "I never do that," Dugan said. "I always trial. I always demo." The cart offered everything that her adventurous daughter would want: It worked well in the snow, it worked well on cliffsides, and it could be used for just out and about town. It also lifted Kaelyn up to the level of others who are standing, making her feel more involved and included in her day-to-day life. "Now, I have a teenager that's at the height of everybody else," Dugan said. "People don't have to look down. People aren't touching her hair. People aren't leaning on her. People aren't patting her on the head like a puppy, because of a piece of equipment that was thoughtfully designed." The cart has also improved Kaelyn's condition, Dugan said. Since her daughter, who is blind and nonverbal, has been able to go out into nature and have more sensory experiences, she's been talking more. "It was," Dugan said, "perfectly timed." Now, Dugan is spending her time trying to build a "Huckleberry Herd," advocating for the carts to be available to rent at various outdoor recreation areas, including national parks. She plans to host a backpacking trip soon with others who use the cart. "We're going to peacefully protest," she said. "We are building a different type of community I didn't think was going to be possible for a kid like mine. Some of us are tired of waiting for someone else to do it." Wilde didn't wait. He took action. And now doors are opening for his child and hundreds—someday, perhaps, thousands—of other kids. This story was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Is this real life or GTA 6?': Rockstar Games leaves fans stunned by hyper-realistic beer bottle graphics; check out the pics
GTA 6, a.k.a. the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer 2, was finally released by Rockstar Games on Tuesday. The sudden drop of the much-awaited trailer has left fans shocked, and they can't stop talking about the graphics of the game. Amid all the discussions, one thing that has blown the minds of the fans is the beer bottle graphic, which looks insane. Rockstar Games is known for their big open-world setup and bold cinematic storytelling, but what truly sets them apart is their meticulous attention to detail and their masterful blend of reality and satire, which creates a striking difference from the other games. Most importantly, Rockstar always tries to reflect the American culture. So while it's no shock that even the beer in GTA 6 looks sterling, it's still a detail worth obsessing over. Graphics of beer bottles in GTA 6 leave fans talking about it In the second trailer of GTA 6, the cold drinks were a recurring theme, and not just because bars, clubs, and other staples of Vice City's nightlife play a key role in the game. It's sweltering in this no-subtle version of Miami and the rest of Rockstar's stylised take on southern Florida, a fact emphasised by the glistening sweat on beer bottles long after sunset. Noticing the staring graphics, fans have pointed to the beers in particular. the details are crazy, just look at the beer 😭😭 Some are even calling them the horse testicles of GTA VI, as fans might remember that the ones in Red Dead Redemption 2 had their own physics. In one of the scenes from the trailer, a room shown on the TV playing in the background shows two beers kept on the table. Fans react to the beer bottle graphics In the video, players can actually see individual bubbles rising to the surface through the amber glass. A fan said, "If beer bubbles are 1TB of textures and graphics… I fully support it." Another said, "Is this real life or GTA 6? Look at the liquid physics in the beer bottles! Insane!" Is this real life or GTA 6? Look at the liquid physics in the beer bottles! Insane!#RockstarGames #gta6 There is another video; the leads, Jason and Luci, are seen standing outside in a bar, clinking glasses on a deck. When you notice this in the video, you can practically feel the gold foil peeling off the tops of their parody Modelo bottles. Grand Theft Auto VI - Moving Beer Liquid Detail In the clip, the liquid is even seen splashing inside the bottle. Additionally, another screenshot shows a similar photo where a Cal is seen in a pool with a beer can floating in the water next to him as little bubbles trickle up to the surface from the backwash, which is still leaking out. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I get paid £60 an hour just to play with people's hair – trolls say it's a stupid job, but my bank account disagrees
A SAVVY mum has revealed she's raking in the "most money she's ever earned" thanks to her unique business - and hit back at trolls who question her prices. Luci Banks, 28, is Scotland's leading ASMR Massage treatment provider and has 800 clients on her books. 5 5 ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response and is essentially the tingly or goosebump feeling that you get on your body in response to different triggers. For a lot of people it can be a nostalgic feeling from when they were a child, such as having their hair brushed or their arms stroked by a parent or a grandparent. An ASMR massage aims to set off that reaction by combining slow gentle stroking movements, hair brushing, skin tracing and the use of tools such as make up brushes and feathers. And Luci, based in Paisley, Renfrewshire, charges up to £60-an-hour for her services. She says: "If you're someone who enjoys having their hair played with or their back-tickled as a child or grown up then this is the perfect treatment for you because that's exactly what we do." Luci - mum to Alfie, aged eight - first stumbled across ASMR videos as a teen and always belived there was a gap in the market for an in-person service. She finally took the plunge and launched her business, Light ASMR Massage, in May 2023 and is now regularly fully booked for months at a time. @light_asmrmassage - where she gives ASMR fans a sneak peek at her treatments. "I still don't quite believe that this is my life", the humble entrepreneur confessed. "I don't know when it will kick in. The 8 everyday mistakes that are RUINING your hair - from your diet to your brush "I earn the most amount of money that I've ever earned in my life and I work the least amount of hours that I've ever had to work. "I am the happiest that I've ever been. I come to work and I actually love what I do and I find that so rare." But despite her obvious success, Luci has also faced sneering comments from people who look down on her business. Judgemental comments include "what a waste of money" and "my husband does it for free". Someone else claimed that "£60 is insane" while another wrote: "Got better things to do with my money. I'll play with my own hair thanks." But Luci has the perfect response for any trolls who question her job and prices. She says: "One thing I like to live by in life is opinions are like a***holes. We've all got one, but we don't have to go about showing everyone ours, you know. 5 5 5 "It's absolutely fine that you wouldn't pay £60 to get your hair brushed. There's things out there that I wouldn't pay for to have done. "But never let anyone tell you that you're too expensive. Know your worth and add tax is my motto in life. "There's always going to be somebody out there who values and appreciates you and will pay what you're asking if not more." And to the people who gloat that they can get the service for free at home from a loved one, she adds: "People should really think themselves lucky when they have a husband, a sister, a mum who can brush their hair and make them feel loved and cared for. "Not everybody has that and that's why I do what I do because I want everyone to have that in their life." The negative messages only make up a small minority of comments on the ASMR queen's social media page, however, as she's mostly flooded with messages from people desperate to book in - and price is no issue. Clients have even travelled from as far as Belfast for an appointment. One person gushed: "I would pay even £100 bc it's super relaxing." "TAKE ALL MY MONEY", wrote someone else. A third insisted: "I'd pay you my monthly wage to play with my hair. Absolutely gutted I live so far away." A fourth chimed in: "I would pay so much money for this." "I'd pay without thinking twice....I LOVE it when someone plays with my hair", said a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth added: "I honestly can not wait to book. If you told me it was £500 I honestly wouldn't blink an eye, take my money." Luci is now actively helping other people turn their passion for ASMR into a business with her own 'how-to' eBook. When she started up her business, there was no such guide and she admits she relied on "lots of trial and error". But now she can offer other budding ASMR enthusiasts everything that she's learned over the yearsin a business manual to "help you get started with confidence". She told us: "I've helped around 20 people through my in-person masterclass and I've sold around 160 copies of my eBook to people all over the world including the USA and Australia. "The education/mentoring side of the business is what I'm really focusing on this year. "I've always been passionate about helping people and I really thrive off seeing them succeed."
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I get paid £60 an hour just to play with people's hair – trolls say it's a stupid job, but my bank account disagrees
A SAVVY mum has revealed she's raking in the "most money she's ever earned" thanks to her unique business - and hit back at trolls who question her prices. 5 Luci Banks is a top ASMR massage provider Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 She gets paid £60-an-hour to brush people's hair Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage For a lot of people it can be a nostalgic feeling from when they were a child, such as having their hair brushed or their arms stroked by a parent or a grandparent. An ASMR massage aims to set off that reaction by combining slow gentle stroking movements, hair brushing, skin tracing and the use of tools such as make up brushes and feathers. And Luci, based in Paisley, Renfrewshire, charges up to £60-an-hour for her services. She says: "If you're someone who enjoys having their hair played with or their back-tickled as a child or grown up then this is the perfect treatment for you because that's exactly what we do." Luci - mum to Alfie, aged eight - first stumbled across ASMR videos as a teen and always belived there was a gap in the market for an in-person service. She finally took the plunge and launched her business, She also racks up millions of views on her TikTok page - Most read in Fabulous "I still don't quite believe that this is my life", the humble entrepreneur confessed. "I don't know when it will kick in. The 8 everyday mistakes that are RUINING your hair - from your diet to your brush "I earn the most amount of money that I've ever earned in my life and I work the least amount of hours that I've ever had to work. "I am the happiest that I've ever been. I come to work and I actually love what I do and I find that so rare." But despite her obvious success, Luci has also faced sneering comments from people who look down on her business. Judgemental comments include "what a waste of money" and "my husband does it for free". Someone else claimed that "£60 is insane" while another wrote: "Got better things to do with my money. I'll play with my own hair thanks." But Luci has the perfect response for any trolls who question her job and prices. She says: "One thing I like to live by in life is opinions are like a***holes. We've all got one, but we don't have to go about showing everyone ours, you know. 5 Luci's treatments are all about triggering that tingly or goosebump response Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 Luci has 800 clients on her books who swear by her services Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 Luci launched her business after spotting a gap in the market Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage "It's absolutely fine that you wouldn't pay £60 to get your hair brushed. There's things out there that I wouldn't pay for to have done. "But never let anyone tell you that you're too expensive. Know your worth and add tax is my motto in life. "There's always going to be somebody out there who values and appreciates you and will pay what you're asking if not more." And to the people who gloat that they can get the service for free at home from a loved one, she adds: "People should really think themselves lucky when they have a husband, a sister, a mum who can brush their hair and make them feel loved and cared for. "Not everybody has that and that's why I do what I do because I want everyone to have that in their life." The negative messages only make up a small minority of comments on the ASMR queen's social media page, however, as she's mostly flooded with messages from people desperate to book in - and price is no issue. Clients have even travelled from as far as Belfast for an appointment. One person gushed: "I would pay even £100 bc it's super relaxing." "TAKE ALL MY MONEY", wrote someone else. A third insisted: "I'd pay you my monthly wage to play with my hair. Absolutely gutted I live so far away." A fourth chimed in: "I would pay so much money for this." "I'd pay without thinking twice....I LOVE it when someone plays with my hair", said a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth added: "I honestly can not wait to book. If you told me it was £500 I honestly wouldn't blink an eye, take my money." Luci is now actively helping other people turn their passion for ASMR into a business with her own 'how-to' eBook. When she started up her business, there was no such guide and she admits she relied on "lots of trial and error". But now she can offer other budding ASMR enthusiasts everything that she's learned over the yearsin a business manual to "help you get started with confidence". She told us: "I've helped around 20 people through my in-person masterclass and I've sold around 160 copies of my eBook to people all over the world including the USA and Australia. "The education/mentoring side of the business is what I'm really focusing on this year. Read more on the Irish Sun "I've always been passionate about helping people and I really thrive off seeing them succeed." To find out more information about Luci's ASMR massages or eBook, visit her website
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I get paid £60 an hour just to play with people's hair – trolls say it's a stupid job, but my bank account disagrees
Check out how you can get started in the profession too GOLDEN TOUCH I get paid £60 an hour just to play with people's hair – trolls say it's a stupid job, but my bank account disagrees A SAVVY mum has revealed she's raking in the "most money she's ever earned" thanks to her unique business - and hit back at trolls who question her prices. Luci Banks, 28, is Scotland's leading ASMR Massage treatment provider and has 800 clients on her books. Advertisement 5 Luci Banks is a top ASMR massage provider Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 She gets paid £60-an-hour to brush people's hair Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response and is essentially the tingly or goosebump feeling that you get on your body in response to different triggers. For a lot of people it can be a nostalgic feeling from when they were a child, such as having their hair brushed or their arms stroked by a parent or a grandparent. An ASMR massage aims to set off that reaction by combining slow gentle stroking movements, hair brushing, skin tracing and the use of tools such as make up brushes and feathers. And Luci, based in Paisley, Renfrewshire, charges up to £60-an-hour for her services. Advertisement She says: "If you're someone who enjoys having their hair played with or their back-tickled as a child or grown up then this is the perfect treatment for you because that's exactly what we do." Luci - mum to Alfie, aged eight - first stumbled across ASMR videos as a teen and always belived there was a gap in the market for an in-person service. She finally took the plunge and launched her business, Light ASMR Massage, in May 2023 and is now regularly fully booked for months at a time. She also racks up millions of views on her TikTok page - @light_asmrmassage - where she gives ASMR fans a sneak peek at her treatments. Advertisement "I still don't quite believe that this is my life", the humble entrepreneur confessed. "I don't know when it will kick in. The 8 everyday mistakes that are RUINING your hair - from your diet to your brush "I earn the most amount of money that I've ever earned in my life and I work the least amount of hours that I've ever had to work. "I am the happiest that I've ever been. I come to work and I actually love what I do and I find that so rare." Advertisement But despite her obvious success, Luci has also faced sneering comments from people who look down on her business. Judgemental comments include "what a waste of money" and "my husband does it for free". Someone else claimed that "£60 is insane" while another wrote: "Got better things to do with my money. I'll play with my own hair thanks." But Luci has the perfect response for any trolls who question her job and prices. Advertisement She says: "One thing I like to live by in life is opinions are like a***holes. We've all got one, but we don't have to go about showing everyone ours, you know. 5 Luci's treatments are all about triggering that tingly or goosebump response Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 Luci has 800 clients on her books who swear by her services Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage 5 Luci launched her business after spotting a gap in the market Credit: Luci Banks/Light ASMR Massage Advertisement "It's absolutely fine that you wouldn't pay £60 to get your hair brushed. There's things out there that I wouldn't pay for to have done. "But never let anyone tell you that you're too expensive. Know your worth and add tax is my motto in life. "There's always going to be somebody out there who values and appreciates you and will pay what you're asking if not more." And to the people who gloat that they can get the service for free at home from a loved one, she adds: "People should really think themselves lucky when they have a husband, a sister, a mum who can brush their hair and make them feel loved and cared for. Advertisement "Not everybody has that and that's why I do what I do because I want everyone to have that in their life." The negative messages only make up a small minority of comments on the ASMR queen's social media page, however, as she's mostly flooded with messages from people desperate to book in - and price is no issue. Clients have even travelled from as far as Belfast for an appointment. One person gushed: "I would pay even £100 bc it's super relaxing." Advertisement "TAKE ALL MY MONEY", wrote someone else. A third insisted: "I'd pay you my monthly wage to play with my hair. Absolutely gutted I live so far away." A fourth chimed in: "I would pay so much money for this." Advertisement "I'd pay without thinking twice....I LOVE it when someone plays with my hair", said a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth added: "I honestly can not wait to book. If you told me it was £500 I honestly wouldn't blink an eye, take my money." Luci is now actively helping other people turn their passion for ASMR into a business with her own 'how-to' eBook. When she started up her business, there was no such guide and she admits she relied on "lots of trial and error". Advertisement But now she can offer other budding ASMR enthusiasts everything that she's learned over the yearsin a business manual to "help you get started with confidence". She told us: "I've helped around 20 people through my in-person masterclass and I've sold around 160 copies of my eBook to people all over the world including the USA and Australia. "The education/mentoring side of the business is what I'm really focusing on this year. "I've always been passionate about helping people and I really thrive off seeing them succeed." Advertisement To find out more information about Luci's ASMR massages or eBook, visit her website here or make a booking here.
