Lighting Up Lives at Christmas

Allied Mobility is delighted to be supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s Christmas Appeal, Lighting Up Lives.

The appeal aims to provide appropriate wheelchairs to meet the needs of people across the UK affected by motor neurone disease (MND).  Up to 80% of the 5,000 MND sufferers in the UK will require a wheelchair at some stage.  While the NHS does supply wheelchairs, they are often unsuitable, or become unsuitable as a sufferer’s condition worsens through progressive diseases like MND.  The Lighting Up Lives appeal aims to raise money to helpfund wheelchairs for these people.

Staying Mobile

The MND Association has been helping to provide better, more suitable, wheelchairs to help people with the condition through their wheelchair provision service, aiming to provide the right wheelchair to every person within 7 to 10 days of being assessed.

Earlier this year the government agreed to pay up to two thirds of the cost of each chair.  The Lighting Up Lives appeal aims to raise the money for the remaining third.

Koula Rakitzis was diagnosed with MND in March 2011.  To remain as mobile as possible, Koula was keen to get a powered wheelchair but the £4,500 price tag was a barrier.  She contacted the MND Association and they were able to provide a funded powerchair.

Koula comments: “The chair has made an incredible difference to my life.  I came to a point where I needed assistance to walk even short distances but now I can use my chair to do almost everything – it has given a lot of my independence back.”