Hello! I'm Robin and I am hoping to raise money to pay for a new electric wheelchair which would suit my needs & improve my quality of life.

(The page is under the care and management of my close friend and fellow community member, Willow.)

I've had my current wheelchair for 6 years, and as far as electric wheelchairs go, it is one of the most basic you can get. It is lightweight and foldable, which gives great pros like being able to go in the back of our regular car. However, this also makes it very bare bones.

The reality is that it has been causing me pain and injury for a while now, rather than alleviating it and giving me freedom (as a mobility device should). It keeps me restricted to my house for a large percentage of my time.

Before any time that I need to leave the house, I have to assess how much time I'm going to spend in the wheelchair, and judge if it is viable or not, because the longer I am in the chair, the more pain it gives me, and potential for injury. And, well, that fucking sucks! Because traveling to see my friends, seeing live music, and being in nature are things that bring me the most joy in life. I also depend on my wheelchair for getting to any and all health appointments, of which I have a lot.

I've needed to use mobility aids since around 2016, and I've been a wheelchair user for roughly 8 years. I am a user of mobility devices for a number of reasons, ranging from health conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and hypermobile type Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, to chronic fatigue, to a neurological condition called Chiari Malformation, which was discovered after and exacerbated by a car crash I was involved in in 2018, of which I later had urgent brain surgery for.

Every medical condition or symptom I deal with on a daily basis is either life long, degenerative, or both. Getting an optimal wheelchair that is highly customisable will support any future changes in my conditions, which brings me a great sense of security, comfort, and would mean eliminating so much stress and sadness from my life.

In August this year, I reached out to a mobility company called Lifestyle & Mobility. Lee, one of their wheelchair experts, brought 3 different powerchairs to my house for me to try out. His visit lasted 2 hours, and he was able to give me all the information I could possibly need when making a decision, as well as answering any questions I had. I feel very confident in my choice, as well as the adaptations that will shape the support I need.

If you choose to donate to this page, or to share it, know that I am deeply appreciative and thankful. I could easily write a hundred paragraphs to express how I am thankful, but to save all our energy just know that I am.