Help Helena Handcart (me!) increase independence!
Donation protected
Hi everyone, I’m fundraising for an electrically powered folding wheelchair for myself.
For those who don’t know, I have a progressive condition called Ehlers Danloss Syndrome, which really sucks, frankly. EDS affects every part of my life-I can’t (and really shouldn’t!) drive a car, because the spatial reasoning part of the brain is affected, as well as restricting physical mobility.
I use a Motability motor scooter in order to do my grocery shopping and get over the road in cold, damp conditions (and this is England…) -conditions that cause body cramps, spasms, tears to ligaments over and over, plus the usual subluxations and dislocations because I did something foolish like rolling over in my sleep.
The scooter is vital for basic independence, but basic is all it can do - I can’t use it on public transport, in cars or taxis, or go anywhere bar a 8 mile radius. There are so many places I want to go and things I used to be able to see and do that, as it stands, I can no longer risk doing.
More than that, if anything happens to my scooter (yearly servicing means I can be without it for weeks on end while the garage waits for parts to come from Frankfurt) means I am completely shut in my house. Going out at all means my brother driving me to access doors with the shortest inside walk. This short distance is sometimes too long for that day’s pain levels or instability.
A folding, powered wheelchair would change the possibilities for me life. I would have so much more freedom to live my life. Folding so it can sit on the bus or train or taxi; which would open up days out, trips to the cinema or theatre (both subsidised for disabled people), visiting museums or friends and family in other towns.
a
For those who don’t know, I have a progressive condition called Ehlers Danloss Syndrome, which really sucks, frankly. EDS affects every part of my life-I can’t (and really shouldn’t!) drive a car, because the spatial reasoning part of the brain is affected, as well as restricting physical mobility.
I use a Motability motor scooter in order to do my grocery shopping and get over the road in cold, damp conditions (and this is England…) -conditions that cause body cramps, spasms, tears to ligaments over and over, plus the usual subluxations and dislocations because I did something foolish like rolling over in my sleep.
The scooter is vital for basic independence, but basic is all it can do - I can’t use it on public transport, in cars or taxis, or go anywhere bar a 8 mile radius. There are so many places I want to go and things I used to be able to see and do that, as it stands, I can no longer risk doing.
More than that, if anything happens to my scooter (yearly servicing means I can be without it for weeks on end while the garage waits for parts to come from Frankfurt) means I am completely shut in my house. Going out at all means my brother driving me to access doors with the shortest inside walk. This short distance is sometimes too long for that day’s pain levels or instability.
A folding, powered wheelchair would change the possibilities for me life. I would have so much more freedom to live my life. Folding so it can sit on the bus or train or taxi; which would open up days out, trips to the cinema or theatre (both subsidised for disabled people), visiting museums or friends and family in other towns.
I’m 52. It’s way too young to be trapped in my house. However much you could give would help me attain true freedom, freedom that I took for granted when I was younger and miss dreadfully now.
When I started looking, research indicted that I would need to raise between £1-2k to afford a good medium quality one; I have been lowering that target as I have kept researching, and have found ones in the £800-£1000 range that look decent. I have raised the full amount for a particular model, so anything over this can go on accessories like a memory foam seat cushion and back-of-seat bag.
Because it’s an international online financial company, GoFundMe require stricter identification documents, like a passport or drivers license, which means I have to apply for a passport. That will happen at the end of June, and with fast tracking that should arrive mid-late July. I will leave this open until the passport is here, the monies withdrawn and the scooter obtained just so people can see what you have helped me to get!
Anything you could give to help me achieve my goals would be incredible. Thank yo so very much!
a
Organizer
Melanie Pearson
Organizer