Marielle Symonds has always valued her independence.
She has laminopathy, a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes my muscles to weaken over time. In a matter of years, Symonds has gone from being able to fully wave her arm, to only partially being able to lift it, to today – where she can’t lift it at all.
It’s why she needs a wheelchair accessible van.
“I got the diagnosis on my third birthday, actually,” she said in an interview with The Courier. “So I don’t remember a time where I didn’t have it, at least not very well.”
A wheelchair accessible van can cost upwards of $90,000 and lasts about 10 years. It is something the family simply cannot afford.
“When I’m traveling or going out with my family, you know, going to the mall or hanging out with friends or whatever, I need to bring my wheelchair, of course, so a wheelchair accessible van would help me bring it and be able to go more places,” she said, speaking to how critical it is to her independence.
When she found out her parents weren’t in a position to afford a new van, she started to think of ways she could fundraise – and landed on GoFundMe.
It is a popular crowd funding campaign available to people in Canada – where individuals, organizations and businesses can donate money to a specific cause or person.
“It’s very trusted,” she said. “So, I was like, well, maybe this could be an option that we could explore.”
Her GoFundMe has amassed 48 donations, as of Oct. 15, reaching more than $10,200. Her hope is to raise about $28,000.
“The whole point of getting the van is, like, just making sure that I can obtain as much freedom as possible,” she said.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by visiting her GoFundMe page.
