Make Me Mobile

Hi, my name is Imogene and I have Spinocerebrellar Ataxia. I have had this condition since birth and it has affected both my speech and my physical ability.

I have worked extremely hard since birth to reach all my motor and speech milestones. With the help of a lot of therapists, I achieved most of these in order, albeit significantly delayed.

Unfortunately when I became a teenager, my body began to change and I have lost some strength, particularly in my legs. I am no longer able to weight bear and therefore unable to stand or step. I am a full-time wheelchair user and currently have a self propelling chair from the NHS.

Recently I got a puppy called Humphrey. He is a Golden doodle and my best friend. We are currently training him to become an assistance dog and I look forward to him walking alongside me in my wheelchair. At the moment when we walk Humphrey and go out with my sisters, we have to go to parks where there are even and smooth footpath surfaces for my wheelchair. I would love to be able to take Humphrey into the woods and out in the countryside even when it is wet and very muddy!

There is a all terrain wheelchair designed by a mountain biker that I would love to have for myself. Mummy has found a Mountain Trike that would be suitable for me and we would love to raise some money to put towards this. I think that having the Mountain Trike would enable me to join in with more fun family activities that often I cannot do as I cannot access them in an ordinary wheelchair.

In August, my sisters and I, and some of our best friends took part in the Super Hero Triathlon at Dorney Lake. This inclusive event showed me how with the right equipment and support, you can do anything….

Tomorrow Mummy and her good friend Laura are going to run a half marathon whilst pushing me in a buggy. We hope that these events will help to raise money to make me mobile!