Help Fund a Wheelchair Van for my Independence

I’m 23 years old and living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive and life-threatening muscle-wasting disease. I’ve been using a wheelchair since I was 13, and because of the nature of my condition, I can’t drive or travel in a regular car. I need a specially adapted wheelchair van, one with a ramp and custom modifications that make it safe for me to get in and out. Right now, I don’t have that van. And without it, I’ve been trapped at home all summer. I can’t go to the store. I can’t see friends. I can’t even get to a doctor’s appointment on my own. I’ve lost the ability to do the simplest things most people never even have to think about, and it’s taken a real toll on my spirit. But this van isn’t just about local independence. It’s also how I get to college. I’m a student at the University of Illinois, and I live in Massachusetts. I’ve tried flying, twice, and both times the airlines badly damaged my wheelchair. It was devastating. My wheelchair isn’t just a mobility device, it’s my lifeline. Since then, I’ve made the 1,000-mile trip to and from Illinois by van seven times. It’s long, exhausting, and expensive, but it’s the only safe and reliable way for me to keep chasing my dreams. Now, without a van at all, I’m stuck, literally and emotionally. I want to continue school, I want to see the world outside my window again, and most of all, I want to feel like I have control over my own life. A new wheelchair-accessible van can cost over $100,000. That’s not something I or my family can manage alone. If you’re able to help, even just by sharing this story, I’d be forever grateful. Every donation brings me closer to regaining the freedom to live, to move, and to keep pushing toward the future I’ve worked so hard for. Thank you, truly, for taking the time to read my story.