Hi!
I'm Fred a 53 year-old from Indiana.
Hi!
I'm Fred a 53 year-old from Indiana.I grew up on the southside of Chicago. During my childhood and teen years I was a normal active kid. I loved the outdoors! My parents would have to drag me back into the house. I stayed very active. I loved walking, riding bikes, sports ~ anything outdoors.
I injured my spine when I was 24 years-old in a workplace accident. Since it happened, I have endured many back surgeries; five to be exact. I have gone through the shaving of discs, having bars and pins implanted, and even have a spinal cord stimulator. I have limited out on surgeries, and have never fully recovered between them, severely impacting my mobility.
I was married in 1996. My daughter was born in 1997, first son in 1998 and my second son in 2000. My back issues have left me reliant on a mobility scooter to do everything. Sadly, I couldn't be the 'normal dad' that did 'normal' things with my babies.
Having limited mobility has contributed to weight gain, and consequently, the development of diabetes and heart issues. It also caused a fatty liver, which has developed into cirrhosis of the liver. My health difficulties have also impacted my mental health, resulting in depression. My marriage fell apart and ended in 2010.
Since then, I have fought hard to find me again, to lift my spirits back up. Part of finding myself was to get off all pain killers that were altering my mind. Because I got rid of them all, I had to learn to live with heightened chronic pain levels without narcotics and opioids. I knew I had to stop taking them, not only to find myself, but also to prevent further liver damage. I am proud to say that I have been totally free from pain killers since 2012. I have learned to live with the pain and I'm happy again.
I don't want to be stuck in an electric scooter the rest of my life, getting no exercise at all. I was in disneyworld in October of this year (2024) and saw a woman on a Alinker. I thought to myself...."OMG that is what I need"! It is the perfect solution for my mobility issues. With an Alinker, I can get around with the stability I need, and get the exercise that my mobility scooter doesn't provide.
Although I don't like to ask for help, I am living on disability
benefits and there is no way I could afford to purchase an Alinker
myself. All I want is some more mobility, and the added exercise this
will provide me. I appreciate even the smallest bit of help I can get,
because I truly believe this would be life changing for me. I have 2
going on 3 grand-babies very soon, and I want to see them grow up and
don't want my disabilities to negatively affect my health to the point
that I can't enjoy them. It would allow me to be so much more active
in their lives.
I have back issues, heart problems, diabetes and a bad liver, but I
still want to live life to its fullest! I truly believe with all my
heart that the Alinker is the key I'm missing to live a longer, more
fulfilling life.
The campaigns are about sharing. Most people have no idea what life is like when you live with MS or what happens after you have a stroke. Isolation is often a bigger problem than the symptoms of the disease itself. With the campaigns we can share and educate people, because it can happen to all of us. When we create a movement where people simply show up for each other, it might get a bit ‘safer’ and less ‘scary’ to engage with each other. Some people share their experiences on their campaign, others share their funds to support the campaigns. It is not about asking for money, it is creating an opportunity for people to learn and show up with #generosity. Being generous resonates with who we are as humans. We understand generosity deeply and when you practice it, you feel so much better
PLEASE NOTE
- The campaigns are in USD $, and since to the pandemic the price increased from September onwards $2950 USD. This includes the Alinker, shipping, process and campaign fees and our #AlinkerFamily support.
- The campaigns are all or nothing, no credit cards are charged unless the campaign reaches its goal.
- As soon as the campaign reaches its goal, we ship an Alinker (from direct stock or you'll be placed in line, delivery 6-8 weeks).
- Campaigners do not handle money. On disability or welfare, you cannot handle money without being penalized, but you can receive an Alinker !
- When the campaign raises more than the goal, the campaigner can chose another campaign which we then make the donation to, paying it forward, or the balance will be placed in our Collective Campaign to help future campaigners.
- If you want to start a campaign and are outside Canada or the USA, write an email to stephanie@thealinker.com. We can potentially get a shipping quote to where you live, and include that in the campaign goal, though we like to keep shipping at a minimum, so we will not ship anywhere beyond $250 shipping costs.
Together we build a movement of kindness and generosity, because we all need it
Why do we facilitate crowdfunding on our site?
We believe that the Alinkers should be available for everybody, regardless of income and people who start a crowdfunding campaign here, will have access to a life changing Alinker. These crowdfunding campaigns are the first step to make Alinkers available for everybody. BE and the Alinker company are now putting their energy together to build a generous community around all the campaigners! The campaigners are people who allow others to show up generously, give them love!
Here is the Alinker segment as was aired on CBS Innovation Nation October 2019 - https://youtu.be/pk96VDkJ9NU
Why an Alinker?
Generally, medical devices are a technical solution for a body with a
problem.
The Alinker is designed for who we are, a whole human
being, who wants to live an active and engaged life. We are a human,
we have a body. Whether we miss a leg of have MS, it does not change
who we are.
Yet the world we live in, treats us as a body with a problem, which creates a social divide between people based on their body, based on what we have, not on who we are. Isolation and loneliness are more devastating than the disease itself. So we need to show up for each other, acknowledge each other and be present to who we are.
These campaigns are here to bridge the gap between a high quality custom Alinker, and the people who live at the receiving end of a 'sickcare' system that drives people into poverty.
So, show up, be radically generous, it is something we humans really
understand.
When you read each story in each campaign, pause and
imagine who that person is, and why they started the campaign, reach
out to them, let them know they are surrounded and seen, heard and not
alone. When we do that, we feel better and create a safer community
where we know we can show up for each other. It connects us with our
essence, we are radically generous creatures, we just got a little
lost in systems that are not designed for our wellness.
Alinkers change lives, here are a few people
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
Who is the Alinker for?
The Alinker is for people who want to stay active, regardless of mobility challenges.
To operate and use the Alinker you must have the ability to:
- walk to some degree
- flex and extend your legs
- bear weight on one leg briefly while getting on and off the Alinker
- be consciously aware of your surroundings
- be aware of your ability and limitations
What is the Alinker?
The Alinker is an exceptionally cool, three-wheeled walking bike
for humans with mobility constraints. It’s not a medical device,
it’s a lifestyle tool, designed to enable users to lead active and
socially engaged lives — at eye level.
On the Alinker, users sit upright -- at eye level with standing
companions. Weight is supported by the seat with no stress on the
lower body, while handle bars provide additional support. Feet remain
on the ground, keeping users stable and safe.
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
Together we'll make this work, in kindness and from the heart
Highlights
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