Hi I'm Suniti & this is my crowdfunder, of which all funds go into a friend's account to keep safe, specifically for the specialist mobility aid I am still needing. If you prefer you can also just send donations through PayPal - my link is https://paypal.me/sunitiLdog?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GB

TL;DR/ in summary- I am disabled with various chronic health issues and unable to work & so am trying to raise funds towards the incredibly inaccessibly expensive costs of specialised mobility aids. These consist of power trike attachment, the 'Berkelbike Easylegs connect with electric pedal support', with various necessary modifications for my manual wheelchair, & I very gratefully already received enough donations to cover the costs of my 'Byacre Carbon Overland off road rollator' (all terrain wheeled walking frame). The expenses for the aids I need in all amount to £12,000.

*Skip to end for disclaimer info, if too much to read.

Please donate and/or share if able, thank you.

Due to my health & mobility impacting me so much, with a rapid decline since developing long Covid in 2022, it's become necessary that I create this crowd funder. This is to help improve my chances of raising the funds required for the mobility aids that will most benefit me & give me back more option to get around with more ease & autonomy.

The conditions which most impact my physical health are; hEDS (Hypermobile type EDS), POTS, ME/CFS, Long Covid, cardiac issues including Mitral valve prolapse, endometriosis, adenomyosis & degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine - full details around all these are too complicated to go into but if needed, can be googled.

I experience chronic fatigue, chronic pain, hypermobility with weakness & joint instability.

POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome - Amongst the complexities of multiple symptoms this means I have trouble standing for periods of time where I experience dizziness, breathlessness, visual disturbances & can become very faint. POTS causes an increased heart rate especially upon standing - which on continuing to move around can become much higher than what should be 'standard' for the basic activity I'm doing, despite being on medication to reduce it. Due to me having Hypermobile EDS alongside my other health conditions, I have also become incredibly deconditioned & am very weak with instability & pain in my joints - in summary I cannot move in the same way an able-bodied person. It also means that I can be more sensitive to the impact caused if using a mobility aid that does not have adequate support & suspension.

Unfortunately all decent mobility aids suited to the ways I'm affected by Hypermobile EDS are incredibly expensive.

I am also Autistic with ADHD so all these things contribute to intense overwhelm & extra challenges in approaching ways to manage day to day life.

Like many others with complex chronic health issues/dynamic disabilities, I can physically manage different things at differing times - some days are not as bad, but many days I can't get out of bed & can also experience symptoms quite unexpectedly, very suddenly. This means (like many others struggling with the impacts of hEDS) I require options of different aids at different times accordingly - I rely on my walking stick & rollator, but often find these are not enough - I really still cannot get around as much & nowhere near as comfortably as need to. I need to stop a lot & when I try to 'keep going' can be on the verge of tears with walking becoming painful & too challenging with my multitude of symptoms triggered.

To better my independence and improve my quality of life, I need a wheelchair with power, so I can use it without relying on others to push me. A wheelchair with power attachment would allow me to conserve energy, experience more joy, move around safely, and manage my symptoms more effectively, especially on days when my pain is flaring/ other symptoms are acting up.

Due to the deconditioning I've experienced (typical of those with hypermobility & POTS) with my health having declined so rapidly, I would personally most benefit from a power attachment that offers the option of some gentle movement for my legs as & when I can manage. Maintaining movement in the legs is also known to help manage the severity of POTS & help circulation, benefiting heart health & reducing pain. 1 thing I have missed incredibly the past few years is the joy & freedom I used to feel getting out on my bike & this attachment could give me that back. It would also be able to aid me in better getting my dog out & joining others outdoors, which has become very minimal in my life.

The power attachment I have found that meets this particular specification is a 1 of a kind electric trike attachment with power assist pedaling and is called 'Berkelbike EasyLegs Connect' . It would mean that I would be able to engage with manageable exercise by pedalling with different levelled options of powered support, including fully automatic powered mode for when my legs just need to rest. As I would be sat fully supported, I would be much less likely to aggravate my POTS symptoms. These can be set off by sitting up, standing, moving around & over exertion & makes me very unwell when exacerbated.

I've tested out the power trike attachment on the cycle path in Warmley & my smile was coming out the sides of my face with how lovely it was to be able to cycle

again taking deep breaths with the air stroking past me - *pics attached.

To be able to feel like I can move at some pace, without my heart absolutely racing or being breathless, was incredible. The attachment requires various fittings & adaptations to connect to my wheelchair & I would also need to get all terrain wheels for my chair to accompany it.

I have already been given a manual wheelchair by the NHS, which has a headrest which is particularly helpful for my problematic neck. But I am unable to self propel this due to my health conditions. As an ambulatory wheelchair user (only need some of the time), the NHS cannot provide power chairs due to strict restrictions in funding - these can only be issued to full time users. So like many others with similar health conditions, I have to cover the costs for a power attachment myself & am turning to crowdfunding & support of fundraising from charities/organisations.

I also set up this crowdfunder to replace the rollator I was issued by social care, that I found very unsuitable. I am so grateful to everyone who has contributed so I could fully cover the expense of investing in a really great lightweight, all terrain rollator, the 'ByAcre Carbon Overland off road'. In contrast to the basic issue rollator I had this 1 glides over surfaces & has offered me so much joy even getting to roll it over piles of autumn leaves.

It is very hard for me to save to the extent that is needed amongst having so many other expenses, which include; many different therapeutic approaches and hopes to save to eventually drive - to fully benefit in my autonomy & freedom to get around further, enriching my life & visiting nature & loved ones. Obviously if I am successful in raising the funds I will also need to pay for insurance & maintenance of the attachment.

I have nowhere near the funds to cover this, because it is EXPENSIVE being disabled, I can't work because I'm not well enough, I come from a very poor background & power attachments/quality mobility aids are pricy, hence my asking you all for help. I appreciate everyone is also really impacted financially, but even if you can give ANYTHING as little as say £1, please do, you may feel it's not a significant enough amount to give but it is at it can add up, so I will appreciate every penny!!!

*DISCLAIMER: I can still walk - but I have a dynamic disability, (to repeat above) so some days I may get around trying my best to do things, but others it is a struggle to move beyond my bed. Currently my rollator provides me the most physical support, but the specialised power trike attachment would save me from increased fatigue & symptom exacerbation.

Some that know me, may be aware I have previously used crowdfunding to support the cost of therapies, which proved unbelievably helpful.

Unfortunately this has also contributed in being quite a barrier to me putting this crowdfunder out sooner, due to fears of being met with possible misplaced judgement. The reality is that trying to manage living with complex conditions is expensive and accumulating costs are challenging to meet as a chronically ill disabled person unable to work, with decent mobility aids being well beyond my means.

I hope that people will understand life is unpredictable & these struggles are very real & sharing this offers the possibility of massively benefiting from the power of community & solidarity.

If you have any questions about me, my conditions, or anything else, please reach out to me :)

I am also approaching charities/organisations to help with this as the expense is so high.

Even if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser to help gain more support, would be just as helpful and sincerely appreciated ♥️