I never thought the day would come that I would be seeking the kindness and generosity of others.
Hello my name is John I'm a single 59 yr old male who was born with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. After being diagnosed at age six I've spent a lifetime of making a career out of being a patient. by age 26 I had my first hip replacement followed by the other the next year. Over the next 15 yrs I had both my knees and shoulders replaced. During this time I was very fortunate that I was capable enough to go to school to become an x-ray tech.
Who would have thought that the very place that was a symbol of so much pain and discomfort, the hospital. Would be the place I chose to have a career. It wasn't long before I realized that my many years spent as a patient gave me a deep and lasting empathy for others who were suffering. I'm not ashamed to say I think I was very good at what I did. But alas my health failed and all too soon I had to leave work and apply for government disability in 1992.
A person on gov't assistance receives barely enough to cover rent and basic groceries. In the years since I've tried to find something in my life to help others. When I had a vehicle I volunteer drove patients for the cancer society to and from treatments. I would help out at my church's food-bank. Then as recent as 2011 -2014 I underwent two total ankle replacements as well as having my hips replaced after 28 and 29 yrs of use. Two yrs ago I lost my home after a breakup. I would stay active by cutting grass or tending to roses. Some friends have taken me in while I await gov't housing. As such my legs have deteriorated to the point that I have very poor balance and am afraid to venture out for fear of falling. Obviously I can't get up if that happens. My ankle replacements removed most of the pain I was experiencing , but after I could never walk very far.
My family came from a part of northern Ontario that is rich in wide open boreal forest and numerous lakes and streams. This has left me with a deep abiding love for fresh air and wide open spaces. I hope my story will inspire you to help me once again. To not dream about what was , but what can be. Your generosity in any form will I'm sure bring me the ability to want to seek mother nature where ever I can find her. More so now in these days of isolation and Covid-19
Thank-you eternally yours John.
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 due to the pandemic and price increase 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 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 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. 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 Blair 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!
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
Meet the team
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