Hi there!

My name is Oliver Baskaran. I am looking at all means possible to have a brand new powered wheelchair funded to me.

I suffer from a life limiting muscle wasting condition known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Because my muscle strength is so low, I rely on a powered wheelchair to allow me to be as independent I can. The power chair that would be most suited for me is the Storm 4 X-plore True Track Plus. It's very reliable for outdoor use. It's equipped with a top of the range electronic backrest recliner and tilt in space - this is very important for my posture. The great thing about this particular power chair is that there is a wide range of seating options available, which is again very important for my posture. The battery life is also excellent.

My current power chair is not suitable for me; it's not the best for outdoor use, it's very uncomfortable, it's constantly breaking down and the battery life isn't very good.

What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. Muscle weakness can begin as early as age 3, first affecting the muscles of the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulders, and later the skeletal (voluntary) muscles in the arms, legs and trunk. Most DMD sufferers will be wheelchair bound by age 10, due to no longer having enough strength to stand up. Simple day-to-day tasks such as writing, holding a phone or even a PlayStation controller will become more difficult as the muscle wasting progresses. By the early teens, the heart and respiratory muscles are also affected. Sufferers of DMD usually did not survive much beyond their 20s, but thanks to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy is increasing and many DMD sufferers attend college, have careers, get married and have children. Survival into the early 30s is becoming more common, and there are cases of sufferers living into their 40s and 50s.

Thanks for reading!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kind Regards,

Ollie