Motorized Wheelchair Bike for Jim & Sue Machan
Donation protected
My parents Jim and Sue Machan used to be avid adventurers, going to the far reaches of the globe. A little over 10 years ago, this all changed as a wound on my dad's foot incurred on a hiking trip never healed properly due to a bone tumor.
It resulted in the amputation of his leg. He was fitted with a prosthetic. Despite that, he was still able to play the organ and they were still able to travel - though a bit more limited.
One of the things they enjoyed most at home was the simple bicycle ride. When the amputation happened, they invested in a recumbent bicycle for Jim.
Over time, more complications have come about, leaving my dad wheelchair-bound and bed-ridden. They are no longer able to adventure, they are mostly confined to their condo, and they miss the simple joy of taking bike rides together.
Recently, the Van Raam company out of The Netherlands has created an incredible piece of equipment - the VeloPlus motorized wheelchair bicycle. They do have US distributors. The VeloPlus allows an able-bodied person to take a wheelchair-bound person in a tandem ride. The motorization allows for assistance in this process. Here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYZhdJFvcoo&feature=youtu.be
Unfortunately, the VeloPlus is not inexpensive. All of the components and shipping comes in just over $12,000. We are asking for more to accommodate the fees incurred from GoFundMe, and just in case the original quote is missing any items. Any remaining funds will be used to purchase a trailer and hitch to transport the bike.
Both my parents were music teachers. The number of lives they have touched is rather remarkable. When talking to my dad, he still remembers many of the names, what part they sang, what solos they may have had, and even where they sat!
Being teachers is not lucrative, and they do not have the funds to do this on their own. Please help me get the VeloPlus to bring some simple joy to my parents lives. We appreciate anything you can do to help.
Ideally, we would love to deliver this on his birthday on June 27, 2019.
Thank you!
It resulted in the amputation of his leg. He was fitted with a prosthetic. Despite that, he was still able to play the organ and they were still able to travel - though a bit more limited.
One of the things they enjoyed most at home was the simple bicycle ride. When the amputation happened, they invested in a recumbent bicycle for Jim.
Over time, more complications have come about, leaving my dad wheelchair-bound and bed-ridden. They are no longer able to adventure, they are mostly confined to their condo, and they miss the simple joy of taking bike rides together.
Recently, the Van Raam company out of The Netherlands has created an incredible piece of equipment - the VeloPlus motorized wheelchair bicycle. They do have US distributors. The VeloPlus allows an able-bodied person to take a wheelchair-bound person in a tandem ride. The motorization allows for assistance in this process. Here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYZhdJFvcoo&feature=youtu.be
Unfortunately, the VeloPlus is not inexpensive. All of the components and shipping comes in just over $12,000. We are asking for more to accommodate the fees incurred from GoFundMe, and just in case the original quote is missing any items. Any remaining funds will be used to purchase a trailer and hitch to transport the bike.
Both my parents were music teachers. The number of lives they have touched is rather remarkable. When talking to my dad, he still remembers many of the names, what part they sang, what solos they may have had, and even where they sat!
Being teachers is not lucrative, and they do not have the funds to do this on their own. Please help me get the VeloPlus to bring some simple joy to my parents lives. We appreciate anything you can do to help.
Ideally, we would love to deliver this on his birthday on June 27, 2019.
Thank you!
Fundraising team (2)
Derek Machan
Organizer
Raised $1,925 from 18 donations
Waterford, WI
JimSue Lautz Machan
Team member
Raised $390 from 6 donations
This team raised $15,475 from 180 other donations.
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