Hi ,
My name is Roxanne. I am 31 years old and live in London UK. Getting around in a city is not very easy with people always in a rush, there are places that are not easily accessible for those of us that need assistance. This is my Multiple Sclerosis journey that started when I was 18.
The first symptom presented with double vision and blindness in my right eye . The doctors gave me steroids to bring back my sight and after invasive testing, they diagnosed me with benign Intracranial Hypertension , Multiple Sclerosis and Anti Phospholipid Syndrome. MS has attacked my brain function most of all, causing multiple lesions in my brain and spinal cord e ffecting my nervous system , cognitive function as well as my neuro-pathways.
This has effected how my body operates and receives signals to complete tasks. Effecting my balance , increasing inflammation in my joints and pain in my spinal cord .
This makes it extremely difficult to remain mobile for long periods of time and to complete simple tasks like walking to the shop or carrying my own bag. I use a cane to support myself but it isn't ideal as it causes upper arm fatigue and the right side of my body becomes numb. It feels like an electric shock so the handling is quite difficult allowing myself no multitasking capabilities. All of these things have not only effected my physical well being, but also my mental well being.
My social life has become non existent because of this . I stay in the house 90 percent of the time to ease the anxiety having to assess where the next seat is for me to be able to rest on . An Alinker could help me live a more fulfilling life finally after years of anxiety filled trips outside, the Alinker will allow me to experience more than just a hospital appointment . I've lost a lot of my confidence ,self worth and freedom to MS and I have been isolated to my house for fair to long.
Crowdsourcing an Alinker will be life changing.
It would allow me to say yes to friends and family members when they Invite me somewhere without fear.
It would allow me to see art and fashion exhibitions in larger venues .
It would allow me to walk in nature and visit and see the worlds beauty with ease.
I will become part of the wider world again.
Overall it will help me ease the depression of isolation I feel day to day from not going outside .
The Alinker will allow me to get back into the work force and possibly find my purpose again. I want to use my skills and knowledge I have acquired in my years of schooling and studying .
My goal is to be able to become a fully functional member of society again by easing and improving both my mental and physical health.
I think this amazing Alinker bike would definitely be great first steps to help me go stronger for longer .
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 Canadian $ (back end requirement on our side), the $2800 CAD includes the Alinker, shipping, process and campaign fees and our 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.
- 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 where we then make the donation to, paying it forward, or get the balanced paid out, the choice is the campaigner's.
- If you want to start a campaign and are outside Canada or the USA, write an email to molly@thealinker.com. We can get a shipping quote to where you live, and include that in the campaign goal.
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. Did you see how happy Selma Blair is using her Alinker? Her anxiety dropped from level 10 to 2 after she got back on her new Alinker. She is so happy and so on with this new invention, that she wants to create a fund to get people access to Alinkers. These crowdfunding campaigns are the first step to make Alinkers available for everybody. Selma and BE 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!
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
us as a person.
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.
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.
