Hi, my dearest friend Rachael needs a wheelchair and power assist to be able to manoeuvre through university life. As a Cambridge applicant, she struggles through daily life trying to find places that accommodate her needs appropriately. She comes from a disadvantaged background and her family cannot fund her due to financial struggles. Her current wheelchair does not meet her needs as it is an NHS wheelchair.

For those who don’t know, Rachael has Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome as well as chronic fatigue. This leads to chronic pain and frequent partial dislocations of joints as well as dizziness and pre-syncope. Rachael is an ambulatory wheelchair user and can walk short distances but experiences pain for longer periods of walking so requires a wheelchair to attend sixth form and soon, university.