(Written by a supporter)

PLEASE HELP SOPHIE RAISE MONEY FOR A RACING WHEELCHAIR.

Sophie is a young adult who used to be both a competitive swimmer and a triathlete. Unfortunately she was involved in a road accident when out training for a triathlon and was knocked off her bike. As a result she was left in excruciating pain and has finally been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which has affected her lower limbs. CRPS is a chronic pain condition it causes intense burning, swelling, hypersensitivity and persistent excruciating pain. Shortly after the diagnosis of CRPS she was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which causes pain all over her body and extreme fatigue. As a result of these conditions she is constantly exhausted and in pain so has had no alternative than to become a wheelchair user. She has gradually found herself having to use the wheelchair more and more as her conditions worsened and until last year she was unable to participate in any sport.

In 2016 after four years Sophie’s strength of character and determination meant she decided to try & get back into swimming. The water on her legs was extremely painful and at first she could only bear the water on her skin for a couple of minutes but she DID NOT GIVE UP! She slowly learnt to tolerate it and in June 2016 took part in a 1-mile event at The Great East Swim despite the fact that she is no longer able to kick her legs! After doing that race she was even more determined and decided to continue training & in June 2017 completed a 10km open water swim in 3 and a half hours! (Again without the use of her legs!)

Despite the swimming, her competitive nature meant that she wanted to get into another sport too but she couldn’t find anything that she could do. She eventually decided to try and get involved in disability sport.

In March 2017 she found a Wheelchair Racing club & from the moment she first got in one of the chairs SHE WAS HOOKED! She went to training sessions & has been using a borrowed chair from the club (when it is available) and improving each week she trains. She has just completed her first 5k training ride. She now needs to get her own chair that is custom made and correctly set up for her so that she can stay in the chair longer as the one she currently uses hurts. Being able to stay in the chair longer with help her to improve both in stamina, strength and endurance and allow her to begin to compete in races.

Racing Wheelchairs are very expensive & the base price of the one Sophie needs is £3600 - so to get to a decent standard chair is going to be very expensive.

PLEASE HELP SOPHIE TO FULFIL HER DREAM OF BEING ABLE TO COMPETE AGAIN AS A TRIATHLETE!

She will forever grateful for any donation big or small.

Thank You!