Please help me get my freedom back.
Donation protected
Hello my name is Shaun.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my gofundme page.
In September 2004 I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. After which I spent two and a half weeks on life support, followed by a year in a rehabilation hospital.
The injuries I sustained included seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a shattered sternum.
Most seriously I broke my back in two places (T4, T5) and my neck in four places (C4 - C7).
I underwent surgery, which involved having a bone graft taken from my hip and put into my neck, and I also a metal plate put into my neck.
The result of which has left me a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. I have full range and use of my arms and partial use of some of the fingers on my right hand.
12 months after the accident I was released from hospital, and since then I have been living in a council flat in Limerick city.
For the past13 years I have only been able to go into the city center when it is not raining and I have really felt the loss of my freedom as a result.
About two years ago my elderly father became very ill, and it was at this point I decided that I simply had to do something to try and change my transport situation, so that I could get my freedom back, and be able go to see him, as he lives outside the city in County Limerick.
I set to work and located a suitably adapted car for sale in Dublin, and contacted several insurance companies inquiring about the cost of insuring me in this vehicle.
In August 2015 I was given a quote from an Irish insurance company in the amount of €1810.
I then proceeded to get a loan to cover the cost of the car and the insurance based on that quote.
In September I went ahead with the purchase of the above mentioned car.
However in Ireland, when insurance companies give a quote in writing, it is only valid until the end of that month.
At the start of the next month you must contact them again and request the quote in writing again. When I contacted the same insurance company again at the start of October I was informed that ALL motor insurance rates would be increasing. So the new quote I was given - for the exact same car - was now €3450.
As a result, I am now the proud owner of a car which I cannot afford to insure and drive legally. As I am still paying off the original loan, I cannot afford to save the balance for my insurance as I only receive a small disability payment each week.
At this point I still have the the original €1800 I borrowed for the original quote I was given, but have no way to make up the balance.
If I was to reach my goal, it would give me back my freedom, and change my entire life as it is. I would no longer be stuck in my apartment looking out the window at the rain (this is Ireland after all.!!).
I would be independantly mobile again and would be able to do so much more for myself.
In essence, it would give me back a large portion of my life that has been sadly missing for so long. I would be able to visit my father whenever I like, and it would also enable me to visit my friends who are not always available to visit me. It would allow me to do things as simple as doing my own shopping or to just go for a drive to clear my head.
I would be extremely grateful for any and all help that you can offer me in reaching my goal.
I would also like to thank you at this point for taking the time to read my story and I will be eternally grateful for any assistance you could offer me, as every donation received brings me one step closer to reaching my goal.
Thank you again for your time and patience,
Kind regards,
Shaun
Current quote: August 2017 €3408.76
Thank you for taking the time to look at my gofundme page.
In September 2004 I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. After which I spent two and a half weeks on life support, followed by a year in a rehabilation hospital.
The injuries I sustained included seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a shattered sternum.
Most seriously I broke my back in two places (T4, T5) and my neck in four places (C4 - C7).
I underwent surgery, which involved having a bone graft taken from my hip and put into my neck, and I also a metal plate put into my neck.
The result of which has left me a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. I have full range and use of my arms and partial use of some of the fingers on my right hand.
12 months after the accident I was released from hospital, and since then I have been living in a council flat in Limerick city.
For the past13 years I have only been able to go into the city center when it is not raining and I have really felt the loss of my freedom as a result.
About two years ago my elderly father became very ill, and it was at this point I decided that I simply had to do something to try and change my transport situation, so that I could get my freedom back, and be able go to see him, as he lives outside the city in County Limerick.
I set to work and located a suitably adapted car for sale in Dublin, and contacted several insurance companies inquiring about the cost of insuring me in this vehicle.
In August 2015 I was given a quote from an Irish insurance company in the amount of €1810.
I then proceeded to get a loan to cover the cost of the car and the insurance based on that quote.
In September I went ahead with the purchase of the above mentioned car.
However in Ireland, when insurance companies give a quote in writing, it is only valid until the end of that month.
At the start of the next month you must contact them again and request the quote in writing again. When I contacted the same insurance company again at the start of October I was informed that ALL motor insurance rates would be increasing. So the new quote I was given - for the exact same car - was now €3450.
As a result, I am now the proud owner of a car which I cannot afford to insure and drive legally. As I am still paying off the original loan, I cannot afford to save the balance for my insurance as I only receive a small disability payment each week.
At this point I still have the the original €1800 I borrowed for the original quote I was given, but have no way to make up the balance.
If I was to reach my goal, it would give me back my freedom, and change my entire life as it is. I would no longer be stuck in my apartment looking out the window at the rain (this is Ireland after all.!!).
I would be independantly mobile again and would be able to do so much more for myself.
In essence, it would give me back a large portion of my life that has been sadly missing for so long. I would be able to visit my father whenever I like, and it would also enable me to visit my friends who are not always available to visit me. It would allow me to do things as simple as doing my own shopping or to just go for a drive to clear my head.
I would be extremely grateful for any and all help that you can offer me in reaching my goal.
I would also like to thank you at this point for taking the time to read my story and I will be eternally grateful for any assistance you could offer me, as every donation received brings me one step closer to reaching my goal.
Thank you again for your time and patience,
Kind regards,
Shaun
Current quote: August 2017 €3408.76
Organizer
Shaun Dee
Organizer
