Thank You Freedom for Wheels…

Since that day, my life has transformed. Completely and utterly. I can go for a little spin around the block! I can lie down or sit up. I can be tilted or reclined or both! I have a Salsa chair and the kind hearted company in Kent Cinque Ports Mobility Folkestone wheelchair service, gave me a while to try and test it to decide if it was what I needed.

I loved Indie (short for independence), because it gave me just that: more freedom than I had ever had since being ill. I can’t quite explain what it feels like to finally be able to go for a walk with your other half and they can stand next to you. No longer do you have to wait for when it is convenient, you can move when you need to: so much more independence. I mean I went to watch a play in London! This wouldn’t have been a possibility even a year ago. I would even say six months ago it wouldn’t have happened.

That’s how huge this is to me.

However, getting into a wheelchair made me realise how very far behind we are in accessibility. It shouldn’t be that just because you are disabled, a taxi cost double, we have to go on a search to get the path that will enable me to cross the road. This is just in the village I live in. I can’t even rent a place easily because my physical disability stops me for I need a accessible flat.

I’ve travelled around Europe and within that scope, we are not doing too badly. In my eyes, it’s not good enough though. For the mean time, the void is filled by Kent charity Freedom For Wheels. Not only did they help me pay for the wheelchair but they bought me ramps so I can get over kerbs. I can now get into my doctor's surgery! The simple joys of a severely unwell person. I really can’t thank them enough.

The charity was set up by somebody who suddenly lost their mobility. She was unable to move her legs or one arm and found the retraining and trying to regain what had been lost so incredibly hard. It means that the founder really knows what it is like to have nothing and she realises the importance of trying to regain as much as possible. She was lucky enough to receive help when she needed it and I am lucky enough that she has done the same for me.

I shall never truly be able to say what it means to be able to actually start rebuilding a life that was physically lost since 2006. Thank you doesn’t seem to enough to show people what it means to have people behind me. The importance of charities like Freedom for Wheels is paramount.

"Freedom For Wheels Mission"

The charity has been set up after one of the founders suddenly became disabled. The challenges met and the costs involved for disabled individuals in providing their own rehab and equipment in order to achieve full recovery potential can be huge.  Funding once over the age of 18 is limited if not non-existent. During this journey we have met many individuals that would benefit from financial assistance in order to regain quality of life. Unfortunately recovery much of the time is down to what and if you can afford it.

'We at Freedom For Wheels want to offer the opportunity to individuals that have approached us and asked for support at the beginning of their journey to recover to open the doors to the possibilities that I as a disabled person have been very fortunate to receive.'