Sarah was 44 when she was diagnosed with mosaic Neurofibromitosis Type 2 (NF2) in Sep 2010, when her body became numb, lost power and function below the waist. Her left leg had been numb for 6 months, but she just thought it was a trapped nerve.

She walked into the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, but within hours was unable to stand. An MRI showed that she had tumours up and down her spinal cord, on her auditory nerve and in her brain. Since then she has had 4 major ops to remove tumours from her spinal cord, and also 2 other ops to remove tumours from other parts of her body.

The NHS gave her a wheelchair in 2012, when she still had some walking ability, albeit with a zimmer, and more muscular control from the trunk down. Despite asking the NHS to review the wheelchair when she became paraplegic, they simply made the chair heavier and less manoeuvrable both for Sarah and any assistant. It is also too wide to get through her doors, doesn't fold easily, and is uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time.

As she can propel herself 10m+ on the flat, she is not entitled to an NHS power chair. She has fantastic friends who take her out, but otherwise is unable to leave the house because Edinburgh is so hilly, the pavements are so damaged and uneven, and the small wheels at the front of the chair get caught in cobbles.

With the right chair she could regain independence. She needs a chair that can fold into a car, is light enough for her father to lift, can cope with Edinburgh terrain, and will allow her to enjoy the countryside, beaches and snow, and is narrow enough to pass through normal doorways. She also needs a detachable powerpack, push handles and a gel cushion.

Given that NF2 is a degenerative disease, she needs all of this now. It would mean the world to her to no longer be housebound and have some independence while she is still able. Sarah would like to be liberated by her wheels, not confined.

Please give generously.