Hi, my name is Jen, and I live with multiple chronic illnesses that have progressively affected my health and mobility over the last decade. I have been an ambulatory wheelchair user since 2017, and in 2021 I was incredibly fortunate to be able to self-fund an electric wheelchair that has given me freedom and independence over the past five years.

Unfortunately, my health has declined significantly in recent years, and I now need a new mobility solution that better supports my needs.

Since 2024, I have spent more time in hospital than out due to recurrent sepsis infections, some of which have been life-threatening. These infections have taken a huge toll on my body. My pain and fatigue levels have increased dramatically, and even sitting in my current electric wheelchair for more than half an hour can leave me in severe pain. At the same time, not using a wheelchair is no longer an option. Walking even short distances leaves me exhausted, dizzy, and often close to passing out.

My current chair is also extremely heavy, which means I cannot lift it in or out of the car independently. I rely heavily on the people around me for help. My parents are approaching their 70s and both have disabilities of their own, and my younger sister Naomi — who is incredible and my main carer — also lives with chronic pain after severely breaking both of her ankles in 2025. As a family, we are doing our best, but physically and financially this has become increasingly difficult.

Earlier this year, we thought we had finally found the perfect solution through Motability. I attended an assessment for an RGK custom manual wheelchair with a StreetJet power attachment, and for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful. The lightweight custom chair would allow me to move comfortably and independently, while the power attachment would give me the support and freedom of a powered wheelchair without the weight and limitations of my current chair.

Sadly, due to recent Motability changes, the costs became impossible for us to manage. The lease would require a deposit of over £1,000 alongside my entire monthly mobility allowance, amounting to around £13,000 over three years — and at the end of that time, I still would not own the chair. With my health being so unpredictable, taking on large finance agreements also comes with risks that we have to realistically consider. While I truly hope I have many years ahead of me, I do not want to leave my family burdened with debt they could not afford if the worst were to happen.

The safest and most sustainable option would be to pay a larger upfront deposit of around £3,000 and then finance the remaining balance over a shorter two-year period. Unfortunately, I simply do not have the means to raise that initial amount alone.

That is why I am asking for help.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean more than I can properly express. This chair would not just improve my mobility — it would give me back independence, freedom, and quality of life. It would allow me to leave the house independently, spend meaningful time with the people I love, and make the most of the precious time I get outside of hospital walls.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing, or supporting in any way you can. Your kindness truly means the world to me.