Quickie Wheelchair Funding?

MuscleDiseaseWontStopMe

Hi Guys and Gals,
I have a very rare muscle disease which is being investigated by the International centre of life muscle disease team. I have been issued with a wheelchair by my local occupational therapist's but its....Well how can i say...a bit plain looking :think: and very heavy!

I'm only 37 and if i have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life....then by god i want a good looking one! :dance:

Anyway i have spoken to my occupational therapist's and they said if i don't like the wheelchair issued i can have a voucher towards buying my own wheelchair which will be around £300 (So thats good news!)

The wheelchair i'm looking to buy is a Quickie Life wheelchair from sunrise medical and i'm going to get it fully loaded with all the optional extra's (It looks pretty cool) :cool2:

The wheelchair is going to cost around £1500 - the £300 voucher = £1200. I'm happy to pay that price to get my set of wheels, but just wondered before i go ahead and buy it....is there any more financial help out there towards buying a new wheelchair?

I don't really expect there to be because i'm choosing to buy a top spec wheelchair.....but thought i'd ask anyway.
Regards Neil

Chorlie

Ok, several things.

The voucher seems a little low, it depends on your area to the amount you get. How it work is you're assessed to the type of chair needed and for how long, they work on the idea that a chair will last for 5 years and they also add extra to cover the cost to maintain it. I was awarded a full 5 year voucher so in total I got about £750, the chair I wanted was £2500 and with a little haggle got 10% off so had to find £1500.

As for financial help, there isn't any direct help, the Voucher is the help, but try your local Rotary Club or Golf Club they do a lot of fund raising for Wheelchairs.

Lastly, never buy a chair because it looks pretty cool, you'll only regret it. Find a chair that meets your needs, it's the right size, weight, has adjustments, the back hight is right for you. You're going to live in it all day everyday for the next 5 years, so it doesn't matter what it looks like if it's perfect for you...sure pick the colour, wheel style etc but look at all chairs, all makes & models find what right and wrong for you than find a chair that meets all your rights.

You could try to visit the Motability Road Show (it's at the end of June) there will be lots of chair you can try and compare to help you find the correct one.

Also if you need a special cushion try and get the Wheelchair Services to supply it, that way it's no extra cost to you and they replace it as and when you need to.

I see you're in the Northwest, I can give you contact details of a Wheelchair Supplier who I've know for years who supply's all makes of chairs including Quickies if that's what you decide upon.

MuscleDiseaseWontStopMe

Hi thanks very much for replying, I don't know the exact amount of the voucher i was just told it should be around £300....So hopefully it will be closer to £750 after you've said that I am on a waiting list for the voucher at the moment and OT said that it will be a minimum of 9 weeks, so i will have to wait and see.

Where is the Motability Road Show? That sounds like a great idea to go and look at all the different chairs.

If you could give me the contact details of the Wheelchair Supplier that you know that would be great Thanks again.

Chorlie

The Motability Roadshow details are:

http://www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk/

I'll PM you the other details