minh needs a power assist

UPDATE july 2025:

thanks to all who have supported me i have been able to get myself an active wheelchair, accessories, heavy duty suspension caster forks, and to pay for medical expenses like injection supplies and wound care. i am still in need of a power assist - Elesmart A5 from Will Street TWF https://www.willstreettwf.com/product-page/elesmart-a5-500w-electric-wheelchair-attachment-shipped-from-uk (£920), as i live on top of a very steep hill which i’m unable to safely go up/down in my wheelchair. i don’t drive so this has left me effectively housebound on days i’m unable to walk, about 50% of the time. 

i am so grateful for the support i have received up until now however i still need help to reach the final 25% of my goal. having been denied PIP, and unable to work, i am just about managing my living expenses on UC and with support from family and friends. i am unable to afford this alone or to save money, and i’m becoming increasingly isolated from my support circle as a result. after multiple hospital visits this past month it’s even more important for me to be able to get out and be with my loved ones.

please donate if it’s within your means and continue to share this fundraiser in your networks, it’d mean the world to me <3

i am also in (less urgent) need of a new cushion for my wheelchair, as well as accessories such as a lapstacker, so if this fundraiser does go over the target any additional funds will go towards those.

original fundraiser:

hello! my name’s minh and i’m a 19 year old disabled person living in north wales. i’m a wheelchair user, and i’m hoping to raise funds in order to buy a custom rigid active wheelchair. as grateful as i am to have my current chair, it doesn’t suit my lifestyle as a highly active and outdoor person, and is causing long-term damage to my shoulders and joints as a result of not being built to my measurements. if i manage to get myself this new chair i’ll donate the old one to someone else who needs it.

i don’t feel comfortable going into detail about my health/disability publicly, but i’m happy to answer questions if you get in contact with me.

i’m looking at the rehasense icon 60 (£1495) as it’s the most affordable option - most other chairs have a base price of at least £2000, and necessary add-ons such as cushions and wheels add to that. ideally i’d be able to get one via the nhs, but because i’m ambulatory (i can walk sometimes) and wouldn’t be using it around my home, it’s very unlikely i’d be eligible.

i’m aiming to raise £2300, to cover the cost of the wheelchair as well as accessories e.g. a more supportive cushion, track wheel (to allow me to use the chair off-road), under seat bag, tire repair kit, and gofundme’s fees. i’m currently a student and living on maintenance loans so i’m not in a place to afford this by myself. i really hate to ask but anything people can give would be so appreciated and helpful, as would sharing this fundraiser.

any money left over from this will be donated to p@lest!ne solidarity & transition funds.

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UPDATE 24/10/2024:

last week i was able to purchase a used chair in my measurements from ebay! she’s the Davinci Leggera, and i’m already in love with her <3 i’d almost forgotten what it was like to move around without pain and fatigue. the seller also very kindly gave me an old RGK frame they had, which i’ll use for off roading and as a backup. i am so grateful for this. it’s only been a week, but my posture and general pain levels have already noticeably improved, and i’ve got so much more energy to spend on things i love, like hiking, climbing and now WCMX.

this wheelchair cost £900, and the rest of the money has gone towards medical supplies (wound care, medication, and hygiene products) and accessories (including gloves, a small frame bag, bottle holder, and helmet/safety gear for WCMX). i am happy to give a full breakdown on where the funds have been spent on request.

i unfortunately will still have to replace the backrest and the cushion. due to my disability i sometimes have episodes of paralysis in my legs, which can increase risk of pressure-related injuries and creates more need for postural support. i am looking at either the Jay Xtreme Active (£550) or Jay Lite (£305) cushions, which will meet my needs and reduce the risk of the complications i mentioned. i am also hoping to buy a rigid backrest, which will improve pushing efficiency, posture, and reduce back pain - either the Matrx MX2 (£725 including mounting hardware) or the Jay J3 Carbon (£845) backrests, which again would suit my needs perfectly. i’d also like to buy the Lapstacker (£93) which will allow me to carry e.g. groceries, sport equipment, bags without dropping or trying to stack things precariously on my lap. again, i’m happy to provide more information on request.

these adjustments will add up to between £1123 - £1490 depending which i go for, so i am going to increase the goal of the fundraiser to reflect this. i would like to reiterate how grateful i am for all the support i’ve already received. i am unable to have this equipment funded by NHS wheelchair services, and i’m thinking of where i was before i got my first chair - frequently housebound/bedbound over winter, unable to look after myself, see friends, study etc, and i was only able to get myself to where i am now with all of the community support i’ve received.

i don’t want to be greedy, and sorry to get political, but being disabled is so unnecessarily expensive as if our lives aren’t hard enough already. i’ve had to drop out of university due to my worsening health, and i’m not able to work full time, so i’m on a very low and unstable income at the moment. the fact that i even have this wheelchair that meets some of my needs and enables me to live my life as a disabled teenager is a huge privilege. please continue to share and donate to this if you can, and consider donating to other fundraisers or charities that help people access assistive technology - it’s so vital.

thank you all so much again, and SO much love,

minh <3