Wheelchair Van Purchase /Conversion

My name is Darrell, I have spastic Cerebral Palsy and for the past 40+ years I have been confined to a wheelchair. I have a manual chair and an electric chair. Basically what happens now is I use my manual chair in my home because I am able to be independent and move from point A to point B myself. When I do venture out, I need my electric chair to have the same independence, having said that, there are times I need a vehicle to take me places, therefore at the present moment, I then have to take my manual chair and transfer from the manual to a car, and to be honest, that can be tricky because I have found that that as the years have passed it is becoming harder and harder for me to transfer in and out of my manual wheelchair and into vehicles at any time of year but, when the snows begin to fly; it's impossible and in fact, Mother Nature works against me with my disability and the snow makes it impossible to move the manual, so I go into a self-imposed hibernation for, 6 to 8 months of the year. This is my reason for this GoFundMe Campaign.

I am in need of a wheelchair accessible van and I need your help with this purchase and adaption. It is my understanding that it is an expensive endeavour, from what I am told {by the local Van Conversion specialist}, that the cost would be "about" $80,000; so this is how I guesstimate the cost breakdown would be - the purchase of a van {large enough to transport me in my electric chair,} $50,000 to $60,000, and adaption {raising of the roof, lowering of the floor, installing of the lift etc.} $20,000, and again those prices are only guesstimations.

In 2011 I broke my left tibia which resulted in having a blood clot just above my ankle since then there have been times that I’ve missed doctor appointments along with needing to have blood tests taken and without proper transportation; it has been at times impossible to see my doctor and/or to get the tests done.

With this wheelchair accessible van I would be able to drive my electric chair to my van and travel everywhere and anywhere at a moment’s notice, no matter what time of year, without fear of falling during a transfer {as the saying goes ”I’m getting too old for this”}, or getting stuck in snow with the manual. This van will grant me complete independence with the freedom to come and go as I please and/or need to.

Not including the freedom of, getting tests completed immediately and/or making doctor appointments; the idea of being free to travel Alberta or even farther, to visit family and friends that I haven’t for many, many years is something I long desperately to do.

Your support is greatly appreciated and all gifts (whatever amount) are most welcome.

Thank you so very much for your help :)