The challenge...
Since I was a child, I have struggled with chronic pain and fatigue, but it was only in my late teens that I started to put the pieces together as to what's been causing it: a combination of a birth defect that wasn't treated and a complicated childhood illness left the muscles holding my patella tendons in place too weak to do their job properly. After two and a half decades of favoring my knees, my hips are taking quite the beating, and I've developed persistent sciatica in both of them. Compounded with fibromyalgia, a seizure disorder, and balance issues, I've got a lot on my plate. I've always been active, preferring to walk rather than bus or drive if I can, and seeking out opportunities to hike in local natural areas (hello Gatineau Parks!) as often as possible... But as the pain in my legs gets worse, leaving me too sore and too tired to do much of anything, I've watched my world shrink. I can be stubborn, pushing myself to conquer the King Mountain trail (my favorite hike I've done, hands down), but I pay the price for longer and longer these days, needing to skip getting groceries, skip seeing friends, push back appointments so I can recover. And it isn't even just those big excursions that wipe me out. It's far too often that I'll walk the few blocks to the store and back, and need to sit for the rest of the day.
Finding HOPE...
I wasn't sure what options were left. That's when I found out about the Alinker.
Like a mix between a bike and a wheelchair, this amazing device would give me the support I need: staying seated while mobile, but still using my legs to keep them strong! It was the perfect solution, and my doctor thought so, too.
Having an Alinker will help me reclaim my freedom and independence that I've been losing due to my pain. I'll be able to more comfortably go longer distances while still resting with ease, and continuing to strengthen my legs. It will let me take care of my basic needs like getting groceries and going to appointments, open avenues to having more of a social life, exercise in a fun and safe way, participate in community events and activism, connect to the world and find inspiration for my art, and more! (Including being able to forage for my guinea pigs a lot more easily. During the late spring, summer, and early fall, I get the majority of their fresh vegetable food from foraging in local green spaces, and sometimes I need to go several blocks to find suitable plants.)
As I tried to set up the next steps to getting one, though, I found that since it isn't a standard mobility aid, I couldn't get help from ODSP to cover the cost. I was facing years of saving every penny.
How can you help change a life?
And then I met Fred, a local Alinker user who got me connected with the wonderful people at the Alinker company who explained how they support crowdfunding efforts. Together, we got this fundraiser set up. Now, I have a shot at getting my own Alinker in only a month! But I've only got a month to do it. And that means I'll need all the help I can get... From YOU!
I think we can do this, do you??
THANK YOU for reading this far! Remember, any little bit helps, even a share 💖🌈💪
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
