A DISABLED woman from Weston has been able to purchase a 'game-changing' wheelchair after organising a 96-hour online fundraising stream.

 

31-year-old Jess Smith, of Weston, suffers with a rare debilitating illness known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

The condition means Jess experiences difficulties with walking and also suffers with chronic fatigue and an abnormal heart rate. 

To get around more easily, Jess searched for a superior model of wheelchair than the one she already owned, and found one which would fit in her car boot, was powered, and uncumbersome. 

 

As an avid disability blogger and social media streamer, Jess is part of a 'stream team' of like-minded creators called Occasionally Bears. After hearing about Jess' need for a better wheelchair, the team suggested a mutual aid fundraiser on the video platform Twitch as a fundraiser. 

This included Jess and 16 of her teammates 'raiding' eachothers streams continuously for a 96-hour event – ending with Jess' own stream.

Followers from across the world got involved and donated to raise funds for her new WHILL C2 powerchair. 

Jess' fundraising target was reached on just day four. She said: "Everyone involved was incredible, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

"The generosity, including from complete strangers, was unbelievable and the shared experience will never be forgotten.

"I was so emotional about the joint achievement of getting the WHILL, I kept crying at the end, it will boost my confidence and is clearly a life-changing product."

She's now visited London to watch ABBA perform.

"I'm life-long ABBA superfan so the concert was awesome, and the holograms were so realistic.

"Moving around busy London had a few challenges but on the whole, it wasn’t too bad.

"Even on the tube’s accessible stations I only needed a ramp and staff assistance once as the WHILL’s wheels were big enough to bridge the gap between platform and train.

"I really feel like I’ve actually got my freedom back."