I am an 81-year-old woman who has lived with polio since I was 10, and I rely on an electric wheelchair. My husband, who is 84, suffered a stroke and now uses a manual wheelchair. We depend on our 2008 converted van for all of our travel needs, from doctor appointments to simply getting out of the house. Over the past year, the van’s door and ramp system have become increasingly unreliable. Each trip, we worry whether the door will open or close, and repairs have been difficult because the necessary parts are no longer available. We live with the constant concern of getting stranded, and accessible taxi service for an electric wheelchair is rare, expensive, and often involves long waits—if we can find one at all.

Since my husband’s stroke, he has had many doctor appointments and several emergency room visits. Without our van, we would have faced many costly ambulance rides. I am also having more appointments myself as I am being screened for cancer. Beyond our medical needs, losing the van would mean losing our ability to see friends, go to church, or even sit by the ocean. We would be completely housebound, cut off from the community and the simple joys that keep us going.

We are hoping to raise enough for a used van in good condition, equipped with a ramp that can accommodate my electric wheelchair. Any support you can offer would mean the world to us and help us maintain our independence and connection to the world. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.