Homeless with Motor Neurone Disease
Donation protected
A few weeks ago a homeless man on crutches came up to me to ask for spare change. As most people usually do, I told him I didn't have any cash and he moved on. A few minutes later I decided to chase after him and offer to buy him some food and this ended in him telling me his life story and how he had ended up homeless. I spent over an hour talking to him and crying my eyes out in the middle of Melbourne Central food court. I couldn't believe what a hopeless situation he found himself in and how unlucky he has been over his entire life.
He told me his name was Bill and he had Motor Neurone Disease; I promised that I would try my best to make his life better. So I'm starting this Gofundme in hope that Bill can get the help that he needs.
I organised to meet Bill for lunch and recorded his story on my phone, this is what he told me:
Bill is 51 years old, he was raised in Victoria in Children's homes where he was separated from his family. He has worked for the majority of his life and paid his taxes. His last job was working for a transport company when he became sick and was unable to do this job anymore. He applied for the pension and was told by Centrelink that he had too much money saved in his bank. He was given a pay out by his company and was told he wasn't eligible for the pension until 22nd May 2018 (8 years later).
Bill has been without income for nearly 8 years and during this time has had throat cancer and osteoarthritus in his hips. In the last year, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and is unable to afford the medication he needs to manage the symptoms of this illness.
What is MND?
Nerve cells (neurones) control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow. Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which these neurones fail to work normally. Muscles then gradually weaken and waste, as neurones degenerate and die.
https://www.mndaust.asn.au/Get-informed/What-is-MND.aspx
He was donated an electric wheelchair to help him get around as he has difficulty walking even with his crutches as a result of MND; however, his wheelchair was vandalised while it was being charged in Melbourne Central train station and is now unusable. It is currently sitting in a motorbike shop and needs to be fixed or replaced.
Bill spends every day standing near the entrance of Melbourne Central shopping centre where he begs for money so that he can try to get accomodation for the night. If he is unable to raise enough money he sleeps on the street.
I have set the goal for this Gofundme as $25000 based on weekly Medication costs ($250pw) for MND and enough money for Bill to live comfortably ($300pw) in Melbourne until May 2018 when he's eligible for the pension (45 weeks from now). However the first action to be taken will be repairing his electric wheelchair.
People diagnosed with MND are given a life expectancy of 2 years from diagnosis and only 10% live beyond 5 years. The medication for MND helps to relieve symptoms and can prolong life by 2-3 months on average.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Motor-neurone-disease/Pages/Treatment.aspx
When I started to speak with Bill I quickly realised that he was like any other person that I might know or be friends with. He's smart, funny and kind and does not deserve the misfortune that he has experienced. I hope that other people like me would like to give him some luck!
I work in Melbourne Central and Bill comes to visit me or I go to the area where he begs for money. I have recently organised for him to have a working phone so I can now contact him. This gofundme is linked to my bank account which I withdraw cash from at an ATM and give Bill money for accomodation and basic necessities. I will also be buying things which he cant get access to otherwise with this money such as a second hand electric wheelchair which I'm currently in search of on gumtree.
He told me his name was Bill and he had Motor Neurone Disease; I promised that I would try my best to make his life better. So I'm starting this Gofundme in hope that Bill can get the help that he needs.
I organised to meet Bill for lunch and recorded his story on my phone, this is what he told me:
Bill is 51 years old, he was raised in Victoria in Children's homes where he was separated from his family. He has worked for the majority of his life and paid his taxes. His last job was working for a transport company when he became sick and was unable to do this job anymore. He applied for the pension and was told by Centrelink that he had too much money saved in his bank. He was given a pay out by his company and was told he wasn't eligible for the pension until 22nd May 2018 (8 years later).
Bill has been without income for nearly 8 years and during this time has had throat cancer and osteoarthritus in his hips. In the last year, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and is unable to afford the medication he needs to manage the symptoms of this illness.
What is MND?
Nerve cells (neurones) control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow. Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which these neurones fail to work normally. Muscles then gradually weaken and waste, as neurones degenerate and die.
https://www.mndaust.asn.au/Get-informed/What-is-MND.aspx
He was donated an electric wheelchair to help him get around as he has difficulty walking even with his crutches as a result of MND; however, his wheelchair was vandalised while it was being charged in Melbourne Central train station and is now unusable. It is currently sitting in a motorbike shop and needs to be fixed or replaced.
Bill spends every day standing near the entrance of Melbourne Central shopping centre where he begs for money so that he can try to get accomodation for the night. If he is unable to raise enough money he sleeps on the street.
I have set the goal for this Gofundme as $25000 based on weekly Medication costs ($250pw) for MND and enough money for Bill to live comfortably ($300pw) in Melbourne until May 2018 when he's eligible for the pension (45 weeks from now). However the first action to be taken will be repairing his electric wheelchair.
People diagnosed with MND are given a life expectancy of 2 years from diagnosis and only 10% live beyond 5 years. The medication for MND helps to relieve symptoms and can prolong life by 2-3 months on average.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Motor-neurone-disease/Pages/Treatment.aspx
When I started to speak with Bill I quickly realised that he was like any other person that I might know or be friends with. He's smart, funny and kind and does not deserve the misfortune that he has experienced. I hope that other people like me would like to give him some luck!
I work in Melbourne Central and Bill comes to visit me or I go to the area where he begs for money. I have recently organised for him to have a working phone so I can now contact him. This gofundme is linked to my bank account which I withdraw cash from at an ATM and give Bill money for accomodation and basic necessities. I will also be buying things which he cant get access to otherwise with this money such as a second hand electric wheelchair which I'm currently in search of on gumtree.
Organizer
Emma Rachael
Organizer
Moonee Vale, VIC