<div><strong>My Sanctuary Above the Stairs: A Journey of Independence</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>My name is Ash. I’m 36 years old, and for a long time, my world was defined by movement and "going beyond." Growing up, my younger brother was my best friend, and we built a world together through gaming and computers. That fascination led me to build PCs for friends all over the country—creating an "online family" long before I needed one in person.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I’ve always been the type to go beyond the job description. I was the researcher travelling Britain to revamp retail stores; the taxi driver; the man behind the wheel of "extraordinary cars" for Auxillis. Later, as a Porter at a castle hotel in North Wales, management and guests commended my helpfulness. I loved my work. I loved my independence.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Five years ago, life changed. I developed a debilitating neurological disability that left me wheelchair-bound and non-verbal. Because I have a rare immunity to anaesthesia, I am trapped in a medical limbo—no diagnosis, no clear answers, just a body at war with itself.
</div>
<div>I have been through several <strong>humiliating and strenuous assessments</strong> with government agencies. For four years, I fought for assistance that I know is a necessity, only to be told it wasn't "feasible."
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>My flat is on the second floor of a Victorian conversion. To some, four flights of stairs and no lift sounds like a mistake. To me, it’s my sanctuary. The views from my lounge and bedroom windows are the incentive I need to get up and face each day. To move from here is not something I could contemplate—I need the security of this home and the neighbours who have become my extended family.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>But currently, getting home is <strong>exhausting and dangerous</strong>. To get down to the world, I have to slide down the stairs on my rear, using a walking stick for leverage. To get back up, I have to physically lift my own legs, step by step, with assistance. The stairlifts would provide me with safe, stress-free access to the outside. It would return my dignity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am a very independent person who has never accepted help if I can manage by myself. <strong>I don’t see myself as disabled—I am just me.</strong> I have issues that can be horrendous, but they are moments to be dealt with so that life can continue going forward.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am seeking funds for the stairlifts because it is an essential addition to my life that I simply cannot fund alone. Life is a challenge, but I deal with it the best I can. I’m not asking for a "want"; I’m asking for the independence I’ve spent my whole life building.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>

Anonymous

Fourth Charity Box August

Third Charity Box July

Second Charity Box June 2026

Charity Sale & Box June 2026

Fleur Hill

Michael Price

Mark Davison

Alan Ainsworth

Peter Ruiter

Charlotte Gibbins

Sheila Zelinger

Emmanuel Desert

Building Bridges, Not Barriers: A Stairlift for Ash

Building Bridges, Not Barriers: A Stairlift for Ash

Still £18,075 to go. Help us build momentum.