Get a cargo bike so that I can get around with my children

Hi, my name is Andrew, and I'm a self employed Maker and stay at home dad. I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea syndrome (SSAS), and as a result I'm no longer able to drive a car. While some people think sleep apnea is just about snoring, it's actually a lot more serious. With severe sleep apnea, I suffer from daytime sleepiness, an increased risk of accidents, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It also causes mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and cognitive impairment. The scoring system used to test sleep apnea states that a score of 15 is 'mild', and 30 is considered 'severe'. I scored 78 on that test.

As a stay at home dad, I'm charged with looking after my two daughters, aged 5 and 1 year old. It's a tiring occupation at the best of times, but when you're unable to transport the children around, it becomes much more difficult. Being able to run errands like picking the children up from school, nursery, and shopping are important, but without the ability to drive, the only option is to walk. I'm always tired, and walking can take a long time when your walking buddies only have little legs. I can't take the children anywhere outside of walking distance from our house, I can't put small children in a taxi except in cases of emergency, and can't guarantee a bus or train will get me where I need to go.

The best solution for us would be an electric cargo bike, as we could use this to get further afield, to soft play areas and parks that we can't reach at the moment. We would be able to go shopping together and do the school run more quickly. Cycling would also be a helpful exercise for me, potentially helping me to reduce the symptoms of SSAS. While I have a small income from my business, I'm not able to work long enough to earn a significant wage. Having to walk everywhere takes a long time, which reduces the hours I have to try and work. Being self employed I'm not eligible for a cycle to work scheme, nor can I get a low interest loan that I could use to buy a suitable bike. I'm hoping to use the funds from this fundraiser to help pay for an ebike we can use to get around, with seats for the children and enough cargo capacity to pick up more than the bare minimum amount of shopping.