Hey all, I’m Marie from Portland, Oregon. I am an artist and writer living with Spina Bifida Occulta and fighting for Disability Justice. I am campaigning to raise money for the Alinker Walking Bike, which is an amazing assistive device that allows the user to move their body and would change my life by helping me get much-needed exercise and keep doing the things I am passionate about.
My disability came on after living a very active able-bodied life for 37 years, working as a pastry chef and running my own business, raising kids, teaching, hiking, and lots of biking. The physical effects of my disability range from loss of muscle control and partial paralysis of my legs, electric nerve pain, deformity and bone spurs in my feet, lack of support and chronic pain in my back, gaining 40 pounds, and most recently developing hip and ankle pain. As you can imagine, this led to a chain of extreme changes in my life where I had to pivot hard. My disability, surgeries, subsequent divorce, and move to another state were very hard on my teenage kids, but we managed to get through it and it made us stronger.
I ended up going to college at age 40 with a rollator/cane and that was very illuminating. A decade later, a long with my three degrees, I gained an in-depth knowledge of systemic Ableism which embedded itself into my art practice and advocacy.
I am passionate about art and higher education and am building a non-profit focusing on Disability Aesthetics, which is about how the disabled body is represented in art and can elevate the classic standards of beauty. Currently, I work with the Alumni Council of my art school to advocate for equity and inclusion, developing a mentor program for disabled students as well as working toward a Global Studios program for disabled students to study abroad. I usually use a mobility scooter and cane, but the Alinker would allow me to do more with my art practice and in the art school space with ease. Also, always being seated can feel dehumanizing at times, making it difficult to be in conversations at galleries and events and experience art at eye level, which the Alinker can help with. I am also excited to see what kind of art/performance I can create using the Alinker!!
On a personal note, I am very close to my adult children and would love to get out more with them and hope to travel as a family. Traveling with a disability can be limiting and difficult and the Alinker would allow for more energy and access while traveling. I also have a four-year-old grandson who is my heart and that I help care for. It would change our world if I could take him on a walk to the park or just stand long enough to cook him a nice meal without being in tons of pain.
Lastly, as a single person with a disability, internalized ableism can be a barrier to social activities and dating, always feeling separated and different from my peers, and the Alinker can help with independence and freedom that can build confidence to break down these barriers.
Thanks so much for listening to my story. Any money raised for my campaign beyond the cost of my Alinker rolls over to the next campaign. The Alinker community is inspiring and I look forward to being involved with future campaigns and paying it forward!!
Cheers, Marie
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
