Fundraising for disability vehicle - PLEASE READ

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Note that permission has been asked and granted for me to post this.

The short version:

I’m severely disabled. I need a new van. I’m raising money to do so using this page: Dion Needs New Wheels! , organized by Dion Detterer

Can you please either forward this link around, share it on social media or even spare a small amount in order to help me reach me goal?

The long version:

Hello everyone,

I’ve been a poster here a long time, though I don’t post that often. A lot has happened to me in that time: in 2003, I suffered a brain haemorrhage that left me bed-ridden for four years; in 2012 I graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science with Honours, moving onto a PhD in computational biology; and last year, I fell in love and became engaged to a wonderful woman who loves me as me. I have achieved all this despite a congenital, undiagnosed form of muscular dystrophy which has caused numerous complications over the years.

Because of various aspects of my condition, my wheelchair is quite large. I use a 1998 Volkswagen Transporter for transport, and that served me quite well for about 11 years. However, in 2010 problems started appearing.

The van would stall in hot weather. (As you can imagine, this is especially problematic in Australia.) I particularly remember one day returning from Sydney Uni to my home in the Blue Mountains and the van stalling every 500m or so, making a 70 minute trip home last over three hours, maybe longer.

Several mechanics looked at the van and changed numerous parts over at least two years (including the local VW service centre). Eventually a corrupted chip was found which seemed to be at fault–it was replaced and the van proved trouble-free until late last year.

The fault again presented itself in October during the recent bushfires while we were trying to flee an oncoming fire that was fast approaching our street.

This past Wednesday, I was returning home from Westmead Hospital when the van stopped (and wouldn’t even restart) on the M4 motorway in peak-hour traffic. Specifically, we were stopped here: Google Maps (link to Google Street View).

After three hours or more in 40 degree heat (i.e. over 100 degrees F), a tow truck arrived to get us off the M4… except it approached so suddenly that traffic behind it lost control and another truck almost plowed into us. We were very, very lucky not to be killed instantly.

It took me over four hours to get home on Wednesday. I was exhausted and dehydrated, but happy to be alive.

But… this fault with the van is obviously not going away despite years of attempts to fix it. I really, really need a new van.

I’m trying to raise funds online for a new van. For the base vehicle alone, I’ll need to raise close to $50,000, and then many modifications will still be needed. Not a cent has been spent at this stage as we have not raised even close to that figure, but I assure everyone that all money raised will go specifically to buying and modifying a van for my transportation needs. Despite being low on funds in day-to-day life, the money raised will never be spent on food, rent or anything else besides an actual van.

The site for fundraising is here: Dion Needs New Wheels! , organized by Dion Detterer

I really need this to get as many views as possible–more views means more donations. If you could please pass the link around to get people interested and donating money, it would be a tremendous help. (If you’d also like to donate, even better! But I don’t expect it of anyone at all.)

Anyway, that’s my story. I’m happy to discuss it further in this thread or in PM.

Take care,
Dion

2

Good luck with the campaign. :slight_smile: Shared it around.

3

Thank you so much.

4

Looks like you’re doing pretty well for just a few days in. Hope the momentum continues to build.

Have you been surprised at the popularity of the campaign?

5

Yes, I absolutely am surprised.

I think social media is an amazing platform for this sort of thing. The same technology that gave us lolcats and conspiracy theory memes can apparently be used for good as well!

What amazes me is when I see that this has been shared on FB alone over 1000 times. To me, that is staggering. I know how small-world networks work, but to see something like this in action first hand, and knowing it will have a real, concrete impact to my life, is quite different to studying the maths of it in a book.

And then when someone I’ve never met gives me $40 (as has just happened while I’ve been writing this post)… extraordinary! It floors me every time, and I thank each person directly because I really can’t believe it.

The last few days have involved a lot of work networking and making contacts, but I cannot emphasise just how unreal it all seems.

6

Bumping for a good cause!

The exchange rate favors the USD over the AUD right now so Americans get like a 7% discount on donations. British donations go even further! Everyone likes a sale, right? :wink:

7

It’s pretty cool, I have to say. And since your cause seems (to me) more worthwhile than many of the “vanity projects” one sees on Gofundme, I’m not surprised to see people sharing it so frequently.

People do care.

8

Bumped and shared. Nobody deserves to break down in weather like we’ve had the last week. And nobody deserves a Volkswagon! :smiley:

Any chance of contacting your local Lions or Rotary clubs? They often love to take on projects like yours…they may even be able to repair the old van while you raise the funds for a new one. It might be worth a try, you never know.

Good luck lobot…may the donation fairies get you some decent wheels.

kam

9

Wasn’t much, but I gave you what I could. Also shared on Facebook and Pinterest.

Good luck Lobot, here’s hoping you reach your goal soon :slight_smile:

10

I just put you over $9000!

11

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much to everyone here. It really means a lot.

kambuckta, you’d know what I mean when I say… it was hot. Especially on the motorway in the direct sun.

I will get in touch with the Lions Club today and see what happens. We’re also talking to someone who has been involved in the organisation of fundraising events, just to see what ideas may work there.

12

Is there a time limit like Kickstarter? I can’t donate until next month.

13

There is no time limit as far as I’m aware, since unlike Kickstarter, the donations are immediate.

14

You’re just damned lucky we’re not donating funds for your funeral! Mind you, after last week, you’d have saved costs on the cremation. :smiley:

15

No kidding!

And speaking of cremation, last week I was really dreading another bushfire. It was a real possibility and I probably would have had to call an ambulance to get out. I actually enjoy spring and summer as seasons, but between bushfires and now the van again, an awful lot of stress is added.

16

I have no money but I posted your link on Facebook so maybe that will help a little. Best of luck to you!

17

Thank you, Rushgeekgirl! Like I said, I really don’t expect money, especially from those doing it tough themselves. Just sharing the link is a great help.

18

Is the donation site secure?

19

From the site:

20

Great. There’s a little something in your pay envelope. Good luck with your fundraising.

Also, shared.