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This project successfully funded on 27th April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Mars' 19th Bday - Wheelchair Fund
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Marz is a teenager with ME/cfs. Fundraising £2770 for a custom wheelchair that'll fit their needs and much improve their quality of life.
Hello, I'm Marz, a chronically ill teenager, living with ME/cfs and P.O.T.s and I’m fundraising for a lightweight wheelchair in time for my birthday; that'll fit my needs so I can go out, be social and finish my education.
I'm an artist and a creative with a cohort of hobbies from digital art to crochet. I used to be incrediblyactive, I was a part of a trampolining team and practiced 4 hrs weekly, I even got a medal from a competition, I loved it (I could do backflips and stuff). I used to go cycling regularly and long hikes in beautiful places. In 2020, when I was 13, I began to have less and less energy.
My Conditions:
To date, I've unfortunately had to drop out of education, I struggle to get out of the house and spend hours lying in bed in pain. Because of ME/cfs even things I enjoy, i.e. Gaming or hanging out with friends, can be too exhausting for me and come at the cost of the next few days in bed – totally floored.
And on top of that another diagnosis I have P.O.T.s makes being on my feet, (standing up/walking/even sitting up) unbearable. I get palpitations, nausea and even black outs sometimes I fall – this happens every day.
Mid 2025 I borrowed a wheelchair to attend a 3-day psychedelic convention, having it was amazing. The thing was old, massive, heavy, wonky and broken, yet it was so freeing. I could handle a full day out (AND GO OUT THE NEXT DAY TOO!), I was independent and got around without pain! Since then, I've obsessed almost nonstop about wheelchairs. It's taken perseverance and overcoming mental blocks (acceptance of my own disability) to get to a point where I’m ready to admit that I really need one. A wheelchair would completely change my quality of life.
How it would help me:
A wheelchair would give me the freedom and opportunity to go out and meet with my friends and family again. I've been isolated and lonely for a long time, and I’ve missed many big important life events; of my own, my family’s and my friends’. It would be amazing to go out, without the fear of exhaustion and pain and crashing for days afterwards. I crave being social and active again.
When I get a wheelchair, I want to return to study and go to university. I'd be able to regain myindependence, to go shopping and do basic chores. Right now, independence feels like such a far-offdream. This wheelchair will create a lot of opportunities for me.
Why Crowdfunding?
The NHS has let me down; I have been passed around speaking to countless people all who tell me the system is broken and they are so sorry that they cannot help me. NHS wheelchair services have ghosted me for ages. I have also spoken to charities who have explained that they are all out of funds. So I have turned to crowdfunding...
What I need:
'Quickie Argon 2', is a lightweight active wheelchair that fits my needs. This one is the cheapest, goodquality adjustable chair that I can find. BUT it comes to £3074 with all the discounts I scrounged from the supplier – (I have a NHS voucher for £390 towards the cost). I can self-propel, lift it into my carbecause it is light enough and it's RED (matches my hair)! My chair will have ‘height adjusted handles’ so all my tall friends can push me without getting backache and my short friends will be able to reach them. It has ergonomic grips to propel myself without pain to my hands. It’s "made to measure" to my body.
(overview)...
- lightweight: i can lift it into my car and self propel efficiently
- Ergonomic grips and handles: to avoid pain from pushing
- Custom fit to my body
- Red!!
what if i raise more than £2770?:
I tend to spend a-lot of time in fields (or generally around uneven terrain). The pavement near my house (you should see the state of them), camping, hiking, festivals and outdoor events. To navigate these spaces, I’m going to need a power attachment. Ones I have looked at include the Klaxon Twist and the Batec! Even on smooth concrete in a flat area pushing a wheelchair takes a lot of strength and energy (that I don't always have). But these, power attachments, end up costing more than the chair itself!
Right now, this is just a dream, I don't even have the funds for the chair itself, yet! This Page will be up until the end of May - I'm hoping to be able to order it in time for my 19th birthday.
Any size donation is really appreciated.
Thank you all, for your help.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made