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fourth stretch goal, for all the helpful accessories, all 25%* off: $149
for a total of $5,486
third stretch goal, for transaction fees (GoFundMe & etc): $150
for a total of $5,331 reached!
second stretch goal, for sun & weather canopy: sale price $539
for a total of $5,181 reached!
first stretch goal, for upgraded seating and flight case: sale price $682
for a total of $4,642 reached!
main target of $3,960 reached!
tl;dr: help me get a mobility scooter that will let me take taxis and transit more easily, visit places like medical facilities and museums, navigate bumpy terrain, and generally get around with more autonomy and less awkwardness, ideally while it's $440 cheaper than usual, and the accessories that will help preserve both my health and that of the scooter, at an incredible 25% off
Hi, my name is Morgan, though some of you may know me online as SoupGargoyle, and I need your help.
In the last few years my disabilities have progressed to the point where I cannot walk even a block without pain, and require the use of a mobility scooter whenever possible outside of my home (and to be honest I could use one inside my home as well). I currently have a scooter but it doesn't really meet my needs, and it's past time for a better one. With your help, I can get it.
Fortunately, the one I need is on sale; unfortunately, the sale is only until Sept 30--so we're on a deadline.
Here are the details:
The problem:
I do have a mobility scooter now, but it:
- was already older when I got it, it's been breaking down since then, and it doesn't meet my needs very well at all
- doesn't have any lighting at all at this point, which is a massive safety hazard
- has very low clearance from the ground which makes it scrape on uneven surfaces
- has no suspension at all, causing me pain and subluxation whenever I have to go over any bumps, curb cuts, etc.
- has armrests that are mounted in a location that digs into my hips & causes me pain because the seat is too small
- simultaneously is too large to enter, exit, and maneuver around in many buildings including shop aisles
- will not fit inside my home, which also means I need a shed or garage to store it securely & out of the weather
- will not fit into any personal vehicle without both a large ramp and someone else assisting me
- doesn't fit into my home care worker's car or most taxis or rideshares, even when it's taken apart
- comes apart into parts that are still too heavy for me and many others to lift & I often don't have assistance available to lift it for me
What I can't do:
Because of many of these issues I'm unable to take it with me anywhere I would first need to travel to by car, such as medical facilities and stores that aren't close enough to my home to scoot to directly, not to mention leisure and enrichment trips such as parks and museums. Let's not even get started on how difficult it is to travel to another place by train, long range bus, or plane while relying on a large mobility device like mine, or how risky it is to check a large mobility device like a wheelchair or scooter, as they often get catastrophically damaged by the baggage loading and unloading process.
Can't Medicaid help?
Not really.
I haven't been able to get my Medicaid to cover a better scooter (or electric wheelchair), even before the threatened federal budget cuts, and while I am grateful for community organizations which seek to connect those in need with used wheelchairs and scooters, they haven't been able to find me any models which meet my needs better than what I have now.
The solution:
This is why I need to turn to you, my community, for help, to increase my opportunities for freedom and independence and ease the stress, exhaustion, and pain of trying to go anywhere outside my home, especially on my own.
The scooter I'm raising money for is called the Movinglife ATTO Sport Max. The regular base list price is $4,399, but it turns out that they're currently celebrating their 10th anniversary, so they're offering 10% off all of their products through the end of September, which is why I've set my goal at $3.960. I recognize this is short notice, and I would have put this up sooner but I only just learned about the sale yesterday. If I don't make this goal by the end of the month, I'll be increasing it to $4,399 to cover the non-sale price. Because I'm in Oregon there is no sales tax or shipping charge to apply. Any amount over my goal that I may receive will go towards accessories such as the protective flight case for instances where I might need to check it as baggage (which would also keep it clean and protected when I'm storing it in my home), on board storage, etc.
Have you even tried it before?
Yes! I had an in home demo recently and was able to take it for a test drive, including down a couple streets near my home that currently give me a lot of trouble, and it rides over them like a dream.
Why this scooter, and not a less expensive one?
- carry weight: lighter weight mobility scooters are often more pricey than heavier ones, since they need to use more advanced technology (ex: batteries) and materials in constructing them, this one breaks down into two parts plus the battery and they are both small and pretty easy to lift as needed
- rider weight limit: most scooters with a higher weight capacity are a more expensive model (even this model, which has the limit I need it to have, is around 10% more expensive than nearly the same ATTO scooter with a lighter rider weight capacity)
- an actual suspension system: a life saver for my dollar store connective tissue (thanks, EDS), especially considering the state of many sidewalks, where they even exist (at times I've had to backtrack for blocks or even give up trying to get somewhere with my current scooter)
- sport capabilities: stronger traction tires for wet weather and uneven surfaces, higher than average clearance from the ground, increased durability, and a more powerful motor
- folded size/form: this scooter folds down into a form the size and shape of a carry-on sized suitcase, including the use of the wheels and an extendable handle to pull it by, which is incredible (this means I'll be able to bring it inside anywhere, fit it in any car, take it on any flight, store it in my closet or under my bed if need be)
- built for travel: designed with travel in mind it's meant to be easy to take on public transportation as well as long range transport like trains, planes, boats, etc, and is built to fit in overhead luggage bins, including a battery that can be taken out and carried onboard if the scooter needs to be checked baggage
- 24 month warranty with service calls available if needed
The flexibility and increased usefulness of this scooter for my needs would be immense, and I'd be able to leave my home so much more often, and for practically any reason, without nearly as much calculus as to how much pain and exhaustion I'm willing to go through to go places and do things outside my home.
I know that it's a fairly big ask, but the improvement of my health and quality of life, not to mention flexibility regarding where I can live if I need to move, would be priceless to me, and I am more grateful than I can say for your willingness to help me reach this goal.
Thank you so much for your help in reaching this goal, it means the world to me, and I am eternally grateful.
Thank you again,
Sincerely,
Morgan (SoupGargoyle)
Organizer
