Hi, I’m Yogi. I’m 31, disabled, chronically ill and chronically injured, and I’m fundraising for an electric wheelchair that could make a huge difference to my independence and ability to participate in everyday life. I have been trying to get help to move out of my current inaccessible flat for approximately five years. Unfortunately, the lack of suitable accommodation has had a huge impact on my independence and has also prevented me from being able to safely use some of the mobility equipment I desperately need. Over the years, my mobility has gradually declined. I went from being around 70–80% bedbound, to 80–90%, and now spend approximately 98% of my time in bed. I live with chronic pain and fatigue, dizziness and pre-syncope, unstable joints, a chronic back injury, frequent flare-ups and much more. I also experience near-falls and falls, which makes navigating stairs particularly difficult and frightening. I currently live in a property that isn’t wheelchair accessible. I have to use stairs to get in and out, often relying on a single crutch, which is physically exhausting and very unsafe. I previously raised money through a fundraiser which allowed me to buy a rollator, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me. However, because of the lack of accessibility within my building, my rollator has to be kept downstairs in the communal buggy store. This means I still have to navigate the stairs before I can even use it. A wheelchair is the next major piece of equipment I need. At the moment, I generally only leave home for medical appointments and essential errands. I don’t have the ability to go out for longer periods, visit places I want to see, enjoy days out, or simply participate in everyday life in the way I’d like to. An electric wheelchair would give me a much greater level of independence and allow me to travel further without relying on a crutch or exhausting myself to the point of a severe flare-up. It would give me the opportunity to get out of the house for longer, access places that currently aren’t realistically possible for me, and hopefully start experiencing more of life outside of medical appointments and essential errands. I am also continuing to work towards finding accessible accommodation. Ideally, I need somewhere step-free, with a lift or direct wheelchair access. I have been trying to move somewhere suitable for approximately five years, and being able to live somewhere accessible alongside having the right mobility equipment would completely change what is possible for me. The wheelchair is my main priority at the moment, so I want this fundraiser to focus specifically on getting that. There are also lots of other smaller disability and mobility aids that I need to make everyday life easier and safer, including things for bathing, using the bathroom, getting in and out of bed, managing pain and carrying out everyday tasks. These are things such as a shower chair, toilet seat raiser, bed rails, an over-bed table, ankle and knee supports, compression gloves, a finger oximeter, a coccyx cushion and other equipment. I may create another fundraiser for some of these items in the future, or work towards buying them individually when I am able to. If anyone would particularly like to help towards one of these other items, please feel free to get in touch with me. For now, though, my main goal is the wheelchair. Wheelchair cost OAS Cruise Pro electric wheelchair, remote & spare battery: £1,128.92 approximately This price can go up or down depending on sales and the price at the time I am able to purchase it. I will always try to buy it when it is on offer if possible. The wheelchair is being purchased from the USA, so freight shipping to the UK will be an additional cost and could potentially be almost as much as the wheelchair itself. I don’t yet know the exact shipping cost, so my overall fundraising target may need to increase once I have a confirmed shipping quote. I know this is a significant amount of money, and I completely understand that not everyone is in a position to donate. Every donation, no matter how small, will help me get closer to having the mobility and independence I desperately need. And if you’re not able to donate, sharing my fundraiser is just as appreciated. Helping it reach someone who can make a difference means so much to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me. ❤️