I am creating this page is for Marcondes Gonçalves Umbelino Dos Santos, my husband's uncle and one of the kindest and caring men I know. He has played a huge part in Felipe's life and is like a second father to him.

Marcondes lives in Liberdade, Salvador, Brazil. He used to be a bus driver, until one day he was in a terrible accident which resulted in him losing both of his legs. Access to healthcare and medical equipment not being what it is here in Europe, Marcondes has since been working his way around the house using two handmade stools, lifting them and shifting from one to the other. His home is on a hill, which is also a cobbled street. To get anywhere else he is completely dependant on other people and needs to be carried. So apart from going to medical appointments or the occasional family event, he very rarely gets to leave the house. As he is getting older, it is becoming increasingly difficult and tiring for him to lift the stools, but despite all this he always greets everyone with a smile and has a cheeky sense of humor. He never complains and is always looking out for his friends and neighbours.

In December 2017, having heard about Marcondes and seeing a video of him struggling to make his way around the house, Felipe's work colleagues decided to help him organise a fundraising event, to raise enough money to buy a second hand electric wheelchair and have it shipped to Brazil. On Boxing Day 2017 Felipe took a sponsored dip in the freezing cold waters of the English Channel. They succeeded in raising sufficient funds to purchase a lovely modern wheelchair which would hugely improve Marcondes' every day life.

Last week, after much research and having saved up the extra money, Felipe, with the help of his boss, finally worked out a way of shipping the wheelchair to Brazil. It arrived in Sao Paulo yesterday 3rd May where, much to everyone's despair, it is now being held by customs. This is where the crowdfunding page comes in. Unfortunately, we have been told that in order for them to release the wheelchair and for it to finally make it to it's destination and a very worthy owner, they require a tax payment to the equivalent of almost £900 (more than the value of the wheelchair!), which must be made within the next 10 days. If not we are risk of losing the wheelchair completely, which would be totally devastating for Felipe and everyone else involved.

Marcondes is the kind of person who never asks anyone for anything and he has no idea that all this is happening. We have been keeping it a surprise and all look forward to seeing the smile on his face. It would be such a shame for it all to fall through and for everyone's efforts and generosity to be wasted. Felipe and I are currently expecting our first baby and cannot afford to gather the full amount ourselves, especially with the deadline.

If you are able to contribute even the smallest amount, it would be truly and greatly appreciated xx