A WOMAN from Hartley Wintney has started a campaign to raise money to purchase parts to upgrade her wheelchair.
Nikki Stowe, 35, is collecting funds to purchase a power wheel system, which she can use to convert her manual wheelchair into a power assisted chair.
This equipment will be life-changing for Nikki, allowing her a greater amount of independence and enabling her to partake in activities she would otherwise be unable to do.
READ MORE: Teenage brothers take up 'extraordinary' challenges to raise money for community pool
This will be the longest period of time that Nikki has stood for since her initial diagnosis 15 years ago.
The sponsored stand will take place on September 7 at Nikki’s bungalow and will be observed by her neuro physiotherapist.
Nikki is preparing for her sponsored stand by completing physio-therapy sessions, building up the amount of time she is able to stand for.
Nikki has a fundraising goal of £5,176, and at time of writing she has raised £760.
Nikki wanted to say “thank you” to those who have already donated money.
She continued: “I’m amazed how much I’ve raised, especially because of the cost-of-living crisis that everyone is going through.
“I didn’t think that I would get anywhere.”
Nikki said it would be “unbelievable” if she reached her fundraising goal.
She added: “It would make my life so much better.”
Friedrich’s Ataxia is the most common type of hereditary ataxia, thought to affect 1 in 50,000 people in the UK.
SEE ALSO: Arts and crafts shop to celebrate first anniversary with 'fun-filled' event
Symptoms usually develop in sufferers before the age of 25 and come in a variety of forms.
These forms include loss of sensation in the hands and feet, problems with balance and co-ordination, increasing weakness in the legs, and abnormal curvature of the spine.
The symptoms often get worse over many years, and people with the condition tend to have a shorter life expectancy than normal.
Nikki said that she wanted to thank her family for the support they have given her since her diagnosis, saying: “They have always been there if I need them.”
As part of her campaign, Nikki is also organising a charity disco.
More information about Nikki and her campaign can be found at gofundme.com/f/nikkis-wheel-power.
A message from the editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.
Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.
Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.
Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.
Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here