Hey, my name is Juno and recently I have made a life changing decision to get myself an electric wheelchair. This will drastically improve my life; please read on to hear more about my circumstances and how you can help

I have chronic illnesses including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, chronic fatigue, and asthma. In the past year my POTS has increasingly worsened to the point where most of the time i struggle to leave my house, and when doing so have to spend days or weeks recovering. When I got my diagnosis of POTS I began using a heart rate monitor, which has helped me realise how much of everyday life I struggle with. Simple trips like going to the corner shop will send my heart rate up to 140-160bpm. I’m constantly missing out on the things I love because simply walking around day to day takes all of my energy.

I’ve got a few mobility aids this year and I've seen the difference these have made in my life. I've seen how important these aids can be, but they have not fully met my needs, especially when leaving the house. That’s why I think the next step is to try a wheelchair.

With a chair, I’ll be able to use that energy to do things I love like seeing friends, going to the beach, going on nature trips, swimming, and be able to do the things I need to do such as going around supermarkets, volunteering, visiting family, and attending medical appointments.

I didn’t realise at first how wheelchairs can help people with POTS until I met other people with POTS who use a chair to make their life so much easier. Having a wheelchair has improved their quality of life and I would like the same for me. It has been instrumental about me coming to this measured and thoughtful decision. I then went on to do research and from seeing disabled advocates using wheelchairs and charities explaining the benefits. I think that it's a mobility aid that will benefit me immeasurably and is something that I'd love the opportunity to try.

Despite this, I was still unsure, so when a great friend of mine called Nush offered to lend me her chair, I decided to give it a go. We went to the shop, something that usually would take my whole energy for the day, and yet with the chair it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t have to deal with the crushing fatigue, pre-syncope, palpitations and array of other symptoms I usually get that result in me having to rest for ages afterwards. Even from the data from my heart rate monitor, see images below, you can see that during the journey I was barely in my exertion mode at all, even in rest mode for part of the journey, which is literally unheard of for me. Comparing this to another trip to the same shop, which takes me ages to get there as I keep having to stop and sit to wait for my heart rate to go down, you can instantly see just how life changing this will be for me.

The chairs I’m currently looking at are the

Freedom Pro ST

Ultra-Light InstaSplit

Nova Ultra-Light Folding Electric Wheelchair

I am also looking at some essential accompaniments such as a Ramp

Donating to my campaign will help change my life so that I’m able to do the things I enjoy and love, as well as the things I need to. If you are not able to donate I understand but could I ask that you please share the link with some of your friends instead.

I want to take a moment to thank my amazing disabled friends: Jay, Nush, Kae, Ruby, Katie, Mayla, Nawshin, Alina, and the incredible community at Disability Action Brighton and the care collective who have been instrumental in my journey with accepting my current capacity and needs. I also want to thank my friends who have been great allies: Ally, Yara, Sofia, Deema, Aiden and Chloe

Any money that reaches above the goal will be donated to mutual aid campaigns for Palestinians.

Thank you so so much!

Juno x