Wortley resident Mel Gascoigne is trying to raise £800 for an electric wheelchchair so she can live more of an independent life. Here’s her story in her own words…
I need help raising money to give me the independence I crave.
I was born with cerebral palsy, known as CP to sufferers, which greatly affects my mobility.
I use a wheelchair pretty much all the time that my husband has to push me around in.
We want to be able to travel to places by bus / train and this is impractical now because my manual wheelchair is old, uncomfortable and very unstable. We have looked in to hiring but at £90 a week we cannot do this.
The NHS say that as I’m over 25 and can walk using crutches I do not meet their criteria for assessment for an electric wheelchair.
Me and my husband would like to be able to do things other couples take for granted such as walk next to each other and talk as we go places. We’d love to go on holiday and lots of other things that having this chair would enable us to do.
If you can find it in your heart to help any contributions would be greatly appreciated.
If you can help, visit Mel’s Justgiving page.