Help Winter Replace Their Broken Power Chair

Hi, I'm Dana, and if you know me, chances are you know my best friend Winter too. Whether it’s theatre trips, comic-cons or crochet groups, we’re basically joined at the hip, so when they needed to go back to America, obviously I got the vacation of a lifetime out of it (and started thinking vacation sounds better than holiday apparently).

The nightmare scenario happened on the way back though, when their wheelchair was damaged by Aerlingus between Ireland and Manchester. We followed the information we’d been given to report the issue, only to find out we’d been told the wrong information while in the airport, so Aerlingus refuse to take responsibility for Winter now being without their vital mobility aid.

The manufacturer of Winters chair sent a full engineers report stating that the damage could not have been caused by user error, and though their chair still technically ‘works’, it’s no longer actually safe to use. Power chairs are very expensive, and with Aerlingus not replacing the one they broke, Winter is left with the choice of using an unsafe chair that could break at anytime, leaving them stranded and likely injured, or simply no longer being able to leave the house even for groceries or doctors appointments.

With Winter unable to live independently without their wheelchair, and Aerlingus refusing to pay for a replacement of the mobility aid their staff damaged beyond repair, we’re left with no choice but buying a new power chair ourselves, which just isn’t financially possible.

Neither of us like needing to do this, but having reached out repeatedly to Aerlingus, as well as solicitors and various coalitions for disabled people, and with Winter soon to resume higher education that they’re required to attend in person, we’ve set up a GoFundMe page to help hopefully raise the funds for a new chair.

I know it’s a tough time for most people right now, there’s absolutely no pressure to donate if you’re also in a tight position, but if you could share the link wherever you’re able to, we’d really massively appreciate it!

We've posted a YouTube video with the full story, and more information about Winter's chair that you can watch here, and you can check out Winter's cosplay instagram too!