Electric Wheelchair for Rachael Elizabeth

Hi, my name is Jeff, and I'm fundraising for an electric wheelchair for Rachael "Rae" Elizabeth to have the whole university experience in Bristol as she gets her degree in Film & TV.

THE GOAL: Fund an electric wheelchair for Rae for her university life and personal life as she has a degenerative and incurable disease.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

"Hi! My name is Rachael/Rae, and I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, currently diagnosed with the hEDS variant. It's a connective tissue disorder affecting my skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. It's like being held together with old Blu-Tack [reusable gum to hold up pictures].

"It causes many problems throughout my body, but my mobility is mainly affected by extreme fatigue, joint dislocations and displacements, and muscle contractions. As a result, I can't walk far and have to use a cane, and uneven ground and uphill terrain are especially dangerous.

"My condition is degenerative and incurable. The best I can do is slow down the damage, which led to me using a wheelchair around five years ago. Unfortunately, I could only afford a lightweight manual chair, but I can't wheel myself more than a couple of feet on flat ground without damaging my hands and risking dislocating my shoulders due to the EDS. The wheelchair gave me more freedom than I'd had, but I'm still restricted by needing a carer with me to push.

"I managed to get into the university of my dreams to study film and tv after being primarily housebound, and it's ideal for learning, but it's challenging with my chair and impossible with a cane. Bristol's sidewalks and roads are seriously destroyed with uneven ground and are almost entirely uphill. I have to commute from the valleys in South Wales to Bristol as they couldn't provide accessible accommodation for me in Bristol. This commute adds to the already exhausting trial of navigating my way to and from university. My current [push] wheelchair is also not suitable for uneven ground; there's no suspension, so I feel every bump, and I've nearly fallen out of it quite frequently as the wheels catch easily on tiny holes in the paving slabs.

"An electric wheelchair would mean actual, true freedom for me. Currently, I can't go anywhere without someone to push me, or I have to use my cane and suffer the debilitating pain and fatigue afterward. I'm the only visibly disabled person in my year group, and it's alienating not to be able to feel independent and engage with university as everyone else has. Even being able to do simple things like go to a local park by myself would be life-changing.

"If anyone can contribute anything or share this fundraiser, I can't describe how grateful I am for that help. It means so, so much more than I can say."

WHAT TO DO:

Give and/or share. We know that not everyone has funds right now, but please give this needed cause for Rachael if you can. Rae chose the electric wheelchair that she believes will be ideal, given her commute and university, and special delivery is included; plus, she doesn't pay VAT tax because she has a permanent disability, so all funds (minus GoFundMe's 2.9%) are going directly to the cost of the MobilityPlus Ultra-Light Electric Wheelchair

WHY I AM HELPING RAE:

I've known Rae for many years online and have seen, through her everyday actions, what she stands up for, and who she lets into her life, and that she's a truly magnificent human being who is only asking for help because she can't afford the electric wheelchair herself. Plus, and this may not mean much to some of you, she makes fantastic original content memes that are top-tier Jeffbook Gold level that should be the envy of all who enjoy sharing memes that make people laugh. Thank you all so very much.