Replace a disabled woman’s stolen phone

I am fundraising for a new phone for myself to replace the one that was stolen from me last night. I was mugged last night and had my brand new iPhone 15 Pro stolen from my hands in London while I was waiting for an Uber, as it was more accessible to me than the tube due to walking and stairs.

I suffer from multiple chronic illnesses, which disable me, such as Fibromyalgia, Vulvodynia, Bladder Pain Syndrome, ME/CFS, Generalised Anxiety Disorder etc. I find it a struggle to travel anyway but was determined to go to a friends birthday dinner in London as being chronically ill is extremely isolating.

I currently live in Hastings with my partner and my assistance dog.

My phone is my lifeline to the outside world, it helps me connect to the people I love most, other people with the same illnesses online and as it is an iPhone, helps with my safety as I am able to share my location with others and use the maps if I do go out to walk my assistance dog by myself. It also keeps me occupied when I am up at night in pain for long stretches of time, which is a godsend.

I am absolutely heartbroken that my phone was taken, the culprits were on bikes and I did not get a good look at them. Luckily some passers by phoned the police for me and I have a crime reference number but they have stated that I am extremely unlikely to get my phone back. I foolishly did not yet have phone insurance.

However, I am still financially liable to pay for it. It cost £900 and I was yet to even make a payment on it, I had it for 9 days. I am in extreme debt as it is, as being disabled costs more per month than the average person (Scope) and I just cannot have this additional debt hanging over me with no phone to use.

Thank you so much for any donation, I am so so grateful.