Dream Wheelchair Fund

Product Description

United Kingdom

Supporters

Hello! I am posting this fundraiser anonymously to protect my safety.

I would like to be able to fundraise to afford an active wheelchair, such as the Quickie Nitrum (the exact model will depend on what I like when I demo one), which costs around £2850 with VAT relief. I would also like to be able to buy mountain bike wheels for the wheelchair, as the terrain in my city is extremely hilly and bumpy. These cost around £380 for a set which includes the axle and a storage bag. My absolute dream would be to get some kind of assisted drive for the wheelchair, such as an Empulse R90 or Empulse Wheeldrive wheels (again depends on when I demo these), which would make it so much easier on my health to get around outside. These cost in the range of £5000-£6000 with VAT relief.

I’ve set the target at £9000 to cover any fees or unexpected costs, and any additional funds I hope to be able to redistribute to other fundraisers (particularly for people in Gaza or displaced).

In 2023, after almost two years of working with my GP, I was diagnosed with ME and PoTS. Both of these conditions cause severe fatigue, muscle and joint pain, post-exertional malaise, dizziness, and many other symptoms. Towards the end of 2023, I was also rediagnosed with severe Graves’ Disease (autoimmune overactive thyroid) after a remission of about 1.5 years. This also causes muscle weakness, heat intolerance, high heart rate, and fatigue among other symptoms. As a result, I am able to walk short distances indoors with a walking stick, but I am unable to walk any distance outdoors. I am currently in receipt of Universal Credit and ADP, but this only just covers my cost of living.

A few years ago, I was able to fundraise about £400 to help buy an affordable self-propelled wheelchair. Unfortunately, this wheelchair no longer meets my needs. Some background:

From late 2020 until early 2024, I was living with a flatmate who eventually became my informal carer due to my health conditions. A combination of lockdown and my worsening health meant I was extremely vulnerable to abuse from them — a fact I did not even realise myself until almost 4 years of living together. It was one of the worst times of my life, and I can truly say I am lucky to even still be alive today.

In March 2024, with the support of some people I will always be indebted to, I was able to remove my abuser from my home. My landlord took this opportunity to start an eviction process against me. My abuser was still on the tenancy, and (according to my homeless support officer) legally still liable for the rent. Obviously they did not pay a penny. For over a year I was forced to pay their share of the rent, totalling over £6000, all while trying to heal from their abuse and fight the eviction process. My flat had steps at the bottom, which meant I had no independence when it came to getting in and out, as I needed someone to help me lift my wheelchair.

In June this year I was finally able to move into a social housing property, again after a year of battling the local council to even send an Occupational Therapist to help with the assessment that would give me priority for a ground floor flat. This gives me so much more freedom when it comes to getting in and out, but it has been difficult to get very far on my own due to my current wheelchair being very heavy. Anyone who has moved house knows this is also a very costly process!

I would appreciate any help that anyone can give, or even to share around with friends and family. The past few years have been so difficult, and being able to get around a little bit easier would mean the world to my journey of healing from the abuse I’ve been subject to.

Links:

What is ME? (Action for ME)

What is PoTs? (PoTS UK)

Hyperthyroidism (British Thyroid Foundation)

Quickie Nitrum Wheelchair (John Preston Mobility)

Empulse Wheeldrive Wheelchair Power Assist (John Preston Mobility)

Empulse R90 (Sunrise Medical)

Anonymous

12 days ago

$36

Arun Kowcun

12 days ago

£5

Anonymous

12 days ago

£20

Anonymous

7 weeks ago

£18

Anonymous

7 weeks ago

£10

Anonymous

7 weeks ago

£54

Anonymous

7 weeks ago

£20

Megan Rodehorst

7 weeks ago

$50

Mina Baird

7 weeks ago

£54

anonymous mouse