My friend Vi is an absolute sweetie.

She’s also been battling ME/CFS for the best part of a decade, and, unfortunately, the condition has advanced lately, massively impacting her quality of life. Where others would be able to get out and about and enjoy life on a whim, Vi must budget what little stamina she has as best she can. It’s been heartbreaking to see how negatively this condition has affected Vi’s quality of life.

Thanks to ME/CFS, Vi spends most of her time in bed or recharging. However, there is technology out there that can help her. The downside: it’s a little pricey.

An electric wheelchair would massively improve Vi’s quality of life, allowing her to get around without needing to exhaust herself to do it. Simple activities we all take for granted, like shopping or going to the park, would suddenly become less like climbing a mountain and more like what the rest of us experience.

We’re currently looking at the MobilityPlus ReclineX Lightweight Electric Wheelchair for Vi. It’s a pricey piece of kit, coming to £1,442.95 with all the bells and whistles. In a sane universe, the government would simply provide Vi (as well as everyone else suffering from this horrid condition) with the equipment she needs. However, in these grim times, it falls to all of us to give what we can to help those of us suffering the most.

If you can afford to give, I urge you to offer what you can. This hardware will have a hugely positive impact on Vi’s quality of life, but only if we all club together and make it happen.

If you can’t afford to contribute, that’s OK - the economy is in the toilet and has been for a very long time. However, if you’re in that boat, I urge you to at least share this in the hope that others who can afford to donate might see it.

Thanks for reading and for giving my friend Vi your time and attention.

Yours sincerely,

Cat Bussell