Help Me Get My Independence Back ❤️

Hi everyone. I honestly never thought I would be making a GoFundMe like this, and I’ve gone back and forth about posting it because asking people for money is really hard for me.

I’m trying to raise money for something that I truly believe would change my everyday life: a Green Transporter Q Express enclosed mobility scooter.

My goal is around $7,000–$8,000, depending on the final cost and everything that comes with getting it home.

I know that’s a lot of money. I completely understand that. So I want to explain why I’m trying so hard to get this specific vehicle and why it would mean so much to me.

I have epilepsy, and because of my medical history, I’m not able to simply go get my driver’s license and drive a normal car like most people my age can.

On top of that, I have significant problems with my knees. My kneecaps are unusually small, and my left knee can actually give out. There are times when I need crutches, and I can’t stand or walk for long periods of time without my knee becoming painful or unstable.

So transportation isn’t the only problem.

Walking somewhere can be a problem. Standing somewhere can be a problem. And getting somewhere independently is a problem.

There are so many days where I end up staying home because I have to depend on someone else to drive me somewhere.

One example is the food pantries.

There are food pantries that I can get to, but walking there can take me 25–45 minutes, depending on where I’m going. Then I have to stand in line once I get there. With my knee, that can be extremely difficult. There are times when I physically need to sit down because my knee starts giving out.

Having this vehicle would mean I could drive to the food pantry instead of walking there, and I could use the vehicle to help me get around while I’m there instead of having to put my body through that much walking just to get food.

I could also drive to Walmart, the dollar store, appointments, parks, and other places around Fond du Lac.

I could actually go get groceries myself and have somewhere to put them instead of having to find someone who can take me.

And I could spend time with my four biological nieces. The Q Express has a rear seating/storage area, and one of the things I think would be really cool is being able to have a little booster seat in the back for one of my nieces when appropriate and when it’s safe and legal to do so.

I’m not talking about putting an infant car seat in it or pretending it’s a normal car. I know exactly what this vehicle is.

I’m talking about having a way to take one of my little nieces with me to the park or somewhere nearby instead of always needing someone else to drive us.

That’s the kind of independence I’m talking about.

I have spent days researching mobility vehicles because I didn’t want to just buy the first scooter I found.

I specifically chose the Q Express because it actually fits what I need.

It’s enclosed, which is incredibly important to me because I live in Wisconsin. It has a heater/defroster, windows that can come down when it’s warm, a seatbelt, Bluetooth, storage space, and it can go up to 18 mph. It also has a rear seating/storage area.

That means I could actually use it in much more of the year instead of having an uncovered scooter sitting in my garage for half the year because of Wisconsin weather.

I know some people might look at this and think, “Why do you need a $7,000 scooter?”

The truth is, I don’t want a $7,000 scooter just because it’s nice.

I want this specific vehicle because it solves problems that cheaper scooters don’t solve for me.

An uncovered scooter isn’t going to be nearly as useful to me in the rain and snow.

Something without enough storage isn’t going to help me bring groceries home.

Something that doesn’t allow me to travel far enough around town isn’t going to give me the independence I’m looking for.

And something that doesn’t allow me to sit while traveling isn’t going to solve the problem of having to walk and stand when my knee is struggling.

This particular vehicle checks all of those boxes.

I’m not trying to use it to drive from Fond du Lac to Algoma or take road trips across Wisconsin. That’s not what I need it for.

I need it to help me get around my own community.

I want to be able to leave my house.

I want to be able to get my own groceries.

I want to be able to go to the food pantry without having to walk 45 minutes and then stand in line until my knee gives out.

I want to be able to go to the park with my nieces.

I want to be able to run a quick errand without having to find somebody who is available to drive me.

I want to be able to have some independence.

I’ve made a GoFundMe before. When I was 18, I made one because I was struggling to afford groceries. I raised about $10, and I had people asking why my family wasn’t helping me.

That experience was really discouraging, and honestly, it makes putting this fundraiser out there again scary.

But I’m trying again because this is something that could genuinely make a huge difference in my life.

I’m not expecting somebody to just hand me $7,000.

I’m willing to work toward this.

I’m willing to save.

I’m willing to sell things.

I’m willing to make money however I realistically can.

And I’m asking anyone who believes in what I’m trying to accomplish to help me get there.

If you can donate $5, $10, $20, or anything you’re comfortable with, thank you.

And if you can’t donate, please share this.

Seriously. Sharing this fundraiser could help me just as much as donating.

I know $7,000–$8,000 is a huge goal. I’m not expecting it to happen overnight.

I’m going to keep working toward it and updating the fundraiser as I go so people can see how close I’m getting.

And if I eventually reach the goal, I want to share the entire journey — from the first dollar raised to the day I finally get to bring this thing home.

Because to some people, this might just look like a scooter.

To me, it would mean so much more.

It would mean being able to get in my own vehicle and go somewhere without waiting for somebody else.

It would mean being able to get food from a pantry without having to walk nearly an hour and then struggle to stand in line.

It would mean being able to get groceries.

It would mean being able to spend time with my nieces.

It would mean not having to choose between staying home and pushing my knee past what it can handle just because I need to go somewhere.

It would mean having a little bit of freedom that I’ve been missing for years.

I don’t expect anyone to owe me anything. I’m just asking for a chance to make this possible.

If you donate, share, or even just take the time to read my story, thank you. Truly.

I hope one day I can look back at this fundraiser and say:

“This is where I finally started getting my independence back.” ❤️