Hi, I’m Joseph.

I’m a 19 year old guy, born on the Isle of Man, who has lived as the only person here with Spinal Musclar Atrophy (similar to Motor Neuron Disease) all my life. Among other things, I enjoy playing video games and watching movies with my Dad. I am also attempting to write a sci-fi/fantasy novel, when life doesn’t get in the way that is. Regrettably, it happens far more than I would like. I rely on my permobil wheelchair to do any of this. I use permobil because they are the only company that provides the specialised “feather touch” controller that I have used since I was 4. My permobil wheelchair is coming to the end of its life and now needs replacing. Unfortunately, the NHS is unable to successfully provide me with one. The last chair that they attempted to give me took 3 years, 3 separate wheelchairs, countless meetings involving up to 11 people and ceased working days after I got it home. Needless to say, it caused a fair amount of stress. This was on top of my mum, who has since passed away, having Motor Neuron Disease at the time. Well, now my Dad has cancer and unless chemo pushes it into remission (something it failed to do last time) his greatest hope is an extremely expensive CAR-T treatment in the USA, which is why I need your help to fund my chair. I can’t go through all that stress and time again only to get nothing. That would strip me of my independence and leave me bedridden. If I have a new chair, Dad can focus on getting himself better again instead of worrying that my chair is going to breakdown any day now. So please, donate whatever you can and help me keep my independence.

If I somehow manage to exceed my goal, the excess will be spent on a new wheelchair accessible vehicle that is large enough to get me off island. My current one is reaching 10 years old and I need a reliable vehicle.