Wheelchair Power Bike Crowd Funding

 

 

I’m Jay, 31 originally from Manchester but moved to Northwich last year. I’m Queer, Trans (Him/Him/They), Disabled and happily married and also a parent to a tiny human!

I’m fiercely independant, I’m the proud owner of a crazy labradoodle and I love spending time with my family and catching up with friends.

 

I’ve been active in the LGBTQ+ Community from my teenage years and found my feet in Trans activism, community mentoring and charity work for nearly a decade now.

 

I run an illustration project called LazyPins, supporting community voices to be heard at LGBT and Disability events and protests across Manchester and further afield, whilst capturing portraits of queer folks and icons to further lgbtqia+ visibility along the way.

 

——————————————————————-

 

I fell off my loaned horse in Summer 2017, I was airlifted out and I had sustained serious injuries as a result I have an incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Herniation and other residual issues which make me a bit wobbly, wonky and have left me unable to walk safely. I also have other spinal issues meaning surgery is highly complex and risky, and right now I can’t take that risk with such a young family.

 

As a result I use a manual wheelchair, I live in an adapted home and the wheelchair adaptations I need aren’t available through the NHS, Local Authority or Hire Purchase routes.

 

I’ve not wanted to do this really in terms of crowd funding, there are reasons why including feeling like I’m begging, general lack of confidence in my worthiness as a human life, knowing many of my friends are also poor and disabled and no doubt saving for their own mobility gear, accessible housing etc!

 

And then I experienced something I hadn’t had since my injury…

 

TOTAL FREEDOM

 

I realised that no, I am not dying and I’m probably not ‘the most’ inspirational cause on planet earth, but I certainly haven’t been living a full life and something has to change to give me a future both for myself, but for my family and friends too and to c9ntinue t9 engage in my community.

 

——————————————————————-

 

I had a power assist drive called a smart drive which was given to me by Draft Wheelchairs it was exdisplay and although it certainly wasn’t the newest model, it was really vital in my day to day life.

 

I could volunteer at sparkle weekend, pride events, take part in marches and protests, go to parties, weddings and funerals! I have attended conferences and Ihad the confidence and peace of mind that if I was unwell, I had support to remain independant.

 

Unfortunately it’s now died a death, after 3 years of near constant use and being a 2013 model, the pandemic finally killed it. Not getting out of the house due to lack of care support and shielding has killed the battery pack plus the leads, casings and cables have started to fail too, it isn’t economical to repair it and it isn’t affordable to replace.

 

Most of us know that EVERYTHING for the disabled community costs ALOT! I’m not eligible for a power chair, nor a manual chair or power assist in my local authority area. I have no other way to fund equipment like this, not with the demands of daily life, parenting and care costs which are forever mounting.

 

I will be purchasing my Triride with Draft, a lengthy warranty and after sales support means I will be covered in the long term too and their quote was the best!

 

I have been saving diligently to get a piece of equipment called a Tri-Ride, bike attachment.

 

This equipment attaches to my manual wheelchair and provides me a massive boost of electric power, almost like an ebike on the front. It’s easily controlled, safe and the brand give a healthy warranty period.

 

I have applied to 4 - UK grant funders and have made headway on getting to my goal personally too.

 

As a condition of one of the funders, I must crowdfund before I can have a portion of match funding, they will match a further 50p in the £1 from crowd funding too. So if I raise £1000 they will portion a further £500 towards my goal.

 

I need to raise the remaining £1,600 over the next 6 or so weeks before funding streams and offers expire in the new year, so this is likely to be a difficult task!

 

——————————————————————-

 

I recently borrowed a Triride from a wonderfully kind friend!

 

I have been able to navigate things without sore shoulders, without physically vomiting from pain, easily going up hills, turning in lifts and short of learning to levitate this is my best shot, I’ve walked the dog and nipped out for milk! Small things that are huge.

 

It’s been bittersweet borrowing one, the realisation of what is possible if you have money, I even negotiated central London, travelling with colleagues from Euston to Canary Wharf and back to Southfields near Putney.

 

It has turned my life upside down, or at least brought me in line with the abilities of my peers and it’s groundbreaking.

 

——————————————————————-

 

Please Note: GoFundMe do not charge a platform fee but take a 2.9% fee plus 25p per transaction