Help Emily get her Basketball Chair & wheelchair

Hi my name is Emily im 16 years old and live in Dearham. I live with with my Dad, Mam and little brother Lewis who is 11 years old.

 

 

 

My Dad, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was 18 months, he was able to walk short distances until he was in his early 20’s and since then has had to rely on a wheelchair for all aspects of his daily living. From an early age it was evident that Myself was having very similar problems, I had poor balance, constant pain in my lower limbs and when I tried to walk could only do so on my tiptoes.

 

 

 

At first Doctors thought that I might also have Cerebral Palsy, however, when I was 3 years old, whilst My Mam was pregnant with Lewis, and following months of tests, they found out that my dad and me both had Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) This is due to a faulty gene which causes the long nerve in the spine, which controls muscle tone and movement, to deteriorate

 

 

 

At six years old I was relying on a wheelchair most of the time, underwent a Tenotomy operation, which involves cutting through the tendons to allow a greater range of movement. Unfortunately it didn’t make a major difference and i still have to use a wheelchair for getting around .

 

 

 

When I was 7 years old i started having 5 monthly Botox injections and was required to go into casts every 3 months which elongates the muscle in the back of my legs, to enable me to walk on the flat of my feet rather than my tip toes, every time these were removed I had to have intensive physiotherapy to teach me how to walk again, when i was 8 years old it was agreed that these weren’t having a positive effect and all agreed they should be stopped

 

 

 

My dad has always had a very positive attitude toward life , when I was diagnosed he was very keen to provide me with a role model as i was growing up, teaching me that anything is possible, even when living life with a disability. He often found accessing leisure and recreational activities with his able bodied friends difficult, with the most realistic sport available being swimming, however, he became a member of Cumbria wheelchair sports club, and fell in love with wheelchair basketball

 

 

 

My Dad took me my mam and lewis to watch him play in games and training and that’s when I become interested and very keen to try it. I loved it and it was quickly acknowledged that I had a natural talent for the sport and was signed up the junior league team of The Cumbria wheelchair sports club sadly that club pulled out of the leagues , however my dad found another club, The Lancaster Bulldogs and both me and my dad have been there ever since they are a great bunch of people , the Bulldogs encourage both disabled and non-disabled members, therefore the set-up allows complete integration, and as a result, several of my able bodied friends have went to training with me to play the sport alongside me , on a totally even level and it was great to be involved in sports with my friends instead of just watching them at school.

 

 

 

Alongside me playing for Lancaster bulldogs I am currently playing junior league and womens league for Wakefield whirlwinds. During playing for Wakefield in woman’s league I was spotted and approached to play for East London Phoenix in the first ever professional womens league which is being ran by British wheelchair basketball . I will be training and playing with some of the best players in the country including Paralympic players

 

 

 

‘ recently I played England orange in the 2021 School Games https://www.schoolgamesfinals.org/sports/wheelchair-basketball/

 

I also played in the junior league final 2019 for Lancaster

spinners and came away with a silver medal .

 

 

i have has been using the same chair since I was 11 and it does not fit me anymore and is holding me back. To progress in the sport I need an up to date sports chair , which would be tailored to my needs and classification and also take into account all aspects of my disability. I have been measured and quoted for a custom RGK Elite X Basketball wheelchair which costs £6,547.00, this amount is substantial

 

Due to the travel and loading of the car and lifting etc I’m also needing a new day chair which I will also be getting from rgk. I need something more lightweight and easier to transport. I  spend 95% of my time in my day chair so having a new lightweight one would make my life a lot easier .

Any extra funds I get from this gofundme I will be using to put towards an rgk sub4 day chair .

Any funds after that will be used for maintenance costs/spare parts and travel 

im studying in 6th form at Energy Coast UTC Lillyhall , they have been amazing and are helping me all they can with my sport. This year I also recently had an interview for the British

wheelchair basketball sports science diploma and I was successful in that so my life is pretty full at the moment .

 

if anyone could help me and continue my journey and help me get the chair I need It would be greatly appreciated

 

thanks for taking the time to read my story

 

Emily X