Kayleigh’s Wheelchair Crowdfunder

Hello Friends!

As most of you know my name is Kayleigh, i'm 21 years old and have been a manual wheelchair user for 9 years. I'm coming up to my graduation in Music and Musical Theatre at the University of Chichester and am currently commuting home to help out my parents, who are both struggling with medical conditions. Despite a horrific year, as a family we have remained positive and strong, overcoming many obsticles by clubbing together and taking financial and care measures with pride and dignity.

However, these circumstances have impacted on our circumstances, and therefore I am unable to obtain a new wheelchair which I so desperately need since my current chair is extremely broken and unsuitable. My current wheelchair is extremely heavy and lifting it in and out of my car multiple times a day is affecting my wrists, back and shoulders, not to mention I have a wonky wheel that likes to try and fall off every so often!!

I wouldn't mind too much, however without my wheelchair I am completely immobile and am unable to continue in my daily life and progress in my career. Unfortunately, wheelchairs on the NHS are never suitable for me as they are unable to provide an active style wheelchair that can sustain my highly active life, and therefore we rely on private companies to provide a chair that fits my needs.

The RGK Tiga Sub4 is an extremely lightweight wheelchair that weighs in at less than 4kg (my current wheelchair is 8). It has predominately rigid parts which means less chance of breaking, and suspension in its castors to provide shock absorbsion and thus less pain in my back. It is completely bespoke which means every single part meets my specifications and will be perfect for me over the next 5 + years.

Not only will this chair allow me to independently manouvre and lift my chair without any health implications, but it will allow me to progress down the career route I want to achieve in. It will also allow me to enhance my dance skills as i will be able to move around easier, as well as in my performance skills as i will be more independent. The wheelchair costs an extortionate £5,500, which although pricey will be lifechanging for me. We have access to half of these funds but are attempting to raise the rest of the money through saving, fundraising and applying to grants so that I can have this specialist equipment as soon as poosible, so that i can begin my chosen career.

I am not normally one to disclose information about my disability on social media, let alone ask for help, however I know this is a great concern to my family and to know they would have one less thing to worry about is really important to me.

If you happen to be able to help, I will be extremely appreciative, however if not I am extremely thankful that you've taken the time to read this!

Have a lovely day!

Kayleigh xxxxxx