Support disabled artist Empress Eyrie's mobility scooter

Hello! Thank you for being here, I am Empress Eyrie, a disabled performer and dance teacher for other disabled people from Australia. Due to my many chronic health and pain issues I require the use of a mobility aid almost every day. Most of the time I use my trusty second hand rollator that I was gifted by a friend and it is my old faithful go to, however the more my chronic pain progresses I find some days that just isn't enough unfortunately and I am left in extreme and debilitating pain and almost unable to walk at all.

That is where we come to this gofundme.

Today while visiting a flower festival with a friend I was able to hire a mobility scooter for the afternoon, by the time we arrived at the festival we had just walked around a museum with my rollator and I was already sore and struggling, the festival had scooter to hire and despite my internalised ableism I fought that and I hired one, and it was absolutely amazing. At first I said "nah, I don't need it" but after a few steps, I realised I really did, and instead of just pushing through and hurting myself like I usually would I stopped, I turned and went back. I didn't allow that internalised ableism to win this time. As soon as I sat down my feet started to sigh in thanks and my hips and back were beyond grateful. This felt like such a significant moment of self advocacy that I am not usually able to do and I felt so proud that I made the best decision for my body not my ego.

The rest of the afternoon I could actually just enjoy the event. I didn't have to mask pain, I didn't have to worry about being so much slower walking than everyone else, I didn't have to constantly find a place to sit and rest and I didn't have to leave early from pain. It was so freeing, and that's what mobility aids really are, freedom. I am so glad I ignored that little voice and listened to my body instead. I felt so free and felt so much joy instead of pain. But that was only one day, I cannot hire them every day I need one like that. So that is how we end up here.

Being a small business owner and disabled means my day to day budget is very tight if non existent due to regular medical bills and unfortunately the NDIS is currently not an option for me as the system is so hard to navigate and takes so long, I sadly cannot rely on that to help me here and I cannot afford it on my own, so after some encouragement from some dear friends I am here asking for some help.

I have done some research this evening and I spoke to the company that hired them as well at the festival about the costs of purchasing a second hand one. The price for these start at $1,200 to $1,800+ second hand depending what is available (brand new they are $5,000 so I am more than happy with second hand). I will also need to purchase a bike shed/locker to store it in as my house does not have a garage or shed, some research has shown those average around $500 to $600.

Any extra funds raised will go towards paying for instillation of the shed and ongoing medical expenses.

Thank you so much for looking and reading, if you do wish to contribute I am so deeply grateful for your support. Please share it on you social medias to help get the word out.

Much love and many thanks, Empress Eyrie