8-8-22

------- Nikki’s Sponsored Scenic Cycle Home ------

In show of the support I have already received so generously recently from friends, family & other donators whilst I am at Neuro Rehab, I have challenged myself to a sponsored cycle of 100 miles. Yes, you read that right! ;) I have been training to cycle whilst in my wheelchair using a Motor Med machine alongside my other physio sessions whilst at rehab so that I can attempt to cycle 10 miles each day for 10 days. To make this cycle a little more fun I have created a scenic route to follow along with me which is roughly 100 miles long stopping off to visit various landmarks as if on my way home (all in time to finish the week before I am due to return home for real!).

Nikki’s Motor Med Cycle will be venturing to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Canterbury Cathedral, Reculver Towers & Roman Fort, Manston Spitfire Museum & then finally my home where I have been away from for nearly 4 months (all whilst I cycle with support from my team and friends I have made here at rehab).

Raising the funds to reach my target of having the specific wheelchair that I need is important in continuing my journey going forwards & so if you would like to sponsor me on my scenic cycle home, please donate here on the crowdfunding page & leave a message if you can. Every £1 given will greatly received and will help in getting closer to the big target!

I am so incredibly thankful for all the help that I have already received so far! You are all amazing! x

I will of course be worn out after each cycle session & may split each 10 mile cycle over a few sessions a day to make sure I do not over do things or antagonise my health conditions (All part of managing my health better now). I will also be resting well in-between my other rehab sessions.

I will be starting the first ten miles on Monday 15th August 2022 & finishing on Wednesday 24th August. I will record my efforts via photos & photographic evidence from the Motor Med analysis reports. I will also share updates on my Facebook & Instagram pages for those who have access, so do keep an eye out! x

Much love & blessings, Nikki x

------ RRP - Breakdown of costs -----

(at the time of posting):

*E-Motion M25 - 2 x e-motion drive wheels/Charger/Lithium-ion batteries in the wheel hubs - £5063

*Ergonomic Control System (ASC) - Switches e-motion on and off (For indoors and outside)/Two remote assistance levels/Rollback delay/Battery Monitor/Self Diagnosis - £382

*Anti-tippers with jack up function (pair) - £263

*Brackets required for installation onto third-party wheelchair - Omit brackets - £67/Fitting to a wheelchair at Invacare factory & delivery -£70 / Collection & fitting to third party wheelchair & delivery -£70 & £90

*Push rim cover (To help prevent friction burns & have better grip) £124

*Bracket for remote control - £139

*Transport Axle - £64

*Ergonomic stub axle £122

*Specialist Cooling Seat Cushion £100- £120

Total needing to raise via Just Giving

= £6,574

----- June 2022 -----

We are trying to raise funds for much-needed specialist power-assisted wheels along with a lightweight & accessible wheelchair frame & cooling support cushion for Nikki. These items are needed to be supportive of all of Nikki's health needs so that when she returns home from a 16-week in-stay at a Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, she will have a way of getting around both inside & outdoors more freely. It will also support her body/joints more fully, give her better independence & overall give her a better quality of life. It will help Nikki to get around with fewer complications so that she can regain her confidence in leading her everyday life which includes being a mum, wife, daughter, friend, & being part of her local community & church.

Nikki has a number of complex health conditions which affect her day-to-day life including FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), hEDS (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder), Fibromyalgia, CFS, Hyperhidrosis, IBS, Reactive Hypoglycaemia & an allergy of the Sun/UV light making going out more challenging. Nikki has overcome many challenges of late and along with her late diagnosis of ASD/ASC and a long history of issues around communication & sensory processing, it can all add to the complexities of these health conditions.

Symptoms of Nikki's physical health conditions can vary day to day but can cause temporary paralysis, weakness, subluxations of joints, repeated sprains, muscle tremors, dysphagia, problems with processing food/energy, chronic pain, migraines, low blood sugar, chronic fatigue, abdominal issues, heart palpitations & more which leaves her needing support throughout the day whilst also needing to get around by using a wheelchair, an adapted car with a hoist along with the adaptations that have already been made to her home such as a stairlift/wet room & electronic front door.

Nikki has a manual wheelchair at present from the Wheelchair Service, but this is too difficult for her to push herself easily outside on uneven surfaces which can antagonise her joints & leads to worsening fatigue. The current wheelchair is too large & bulky for indoors and the cushion causes too much heat which triggers the hyperhidrosis to play up making it more uncomfortable, especially in warmer weather.

Nikki is currently in London having what was supposed to be a 12-week but now a 16-week in-stay at a Neurological Rehabilitation Centre. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, Physio/Occupational & Speech & Language Therapists, Dietician, Psychologist & other Nursing/Health Care Assistants are helping to assess her needs, help her regain some strength & find ways of coping better with the neurological symptoms & other conditions whilst helping her to grow in strength & confidence in being a wheelchair user. This opportunity has given us all hope for a better outcome for Nikki's day-to-day life and we have already seen a massive difference. Although Nikki has worked hard in rehab to build her strength, she is still in need of power assistance for when she is home. Where Nikki lives the pathways, roads, and access to her car are not easily accessible and where the ground is broken up so much the current wheelchair gets stuck causing more added stress which understandably prevents Nikki from going out as often, along with her allergy of the sun this can prevent Nikki from going out often.

Nikki has met many goals within rehab and so we would really like to help her have better accessibility once she is home at the beginning of September so that it does not undo all the hard work she and her team have put in these past few months. The new wheelchair will enable Nikki to keep growing stronger in her continued physio and by being out and about more.

Nikki is unable to have a larger more powered wheelchair as it would be too big for her home & she would be unable to fit it into the adapted car as it would be too heavy for the hoist that is already fitted & would not be able to fold down enough. Therefore, she needs the other option of lightweight Powered Assisted Wheels. These wheels can come with an Ergonomic Control System which offers remote assistance, roll-back delay, anti-tippers & other options that can be set to Nikki's needs to prevent Nikki from rolling back when accessing small ramps or hills when alone and travel further when needing to for instance on family days out or whilst out shopping etc.

Nikki has already raised an amazing £1850 towards the wheelchair frame by selling her much loved craft business tools, equipment & materials along with some cash donations, so we are now looking to raise the rest of what is needed towards the powered wheels/cooling cushion and ergonomic control system.