Katrina
A Crawley family are raising money for a standing wheelchair which will change the life of husband and father Martin Goode.
Martin suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease which affects the nervous system. Since being diagnosed 11 years ago, it has affected him in numerous ways, causing problems with his balance, mobility, speech, eating, and breathing.
However, for the past five years Martin has been confined to a wheelchair which has affected his independence and his ability to carry out day to day activities. At present, he is unable to get around the house and needs manual handling and hoisting just to get in and out of the chair or his bed.
Now, the Goode family – Martin’s wife Caroline and their daughters Natalie and Cherelle – are hoping to buy a piece of equipment which will greatly improve Martin’s quality of life. A standing wheelchair would allow Martin to see the world from his 6ft 4in frame, giving him the opportunity to communicate with others at eye level.
With a standing wheelchair, Martin would be able to drive the chair around and access various rooms in the house. If in need of a nap, he would be able to use its lying down function, rather than nap in an uncomfortable seated position. As a huge Gooner, a standing wheelchair would allow Martin to stand and cheer for his beloved Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. In the future it would also allow him to walk his daughters down the aisle when they decide to get married.
Martin testing out a standing wheelchair
Just as important are the health benefits the standing wheelchair will bring. Constantly sitting at a 90 degree angle can affect breathing, talking, eating and fine motor skills. Therefore this new wheelchair would allow for better circulation – whilst testing out the chair recently, Martin stated that he could feel his legs stretching, something which he hasn’t been able to do for a number of years.
At a cost of £12,000, this life changing piece of equipment isn’t cheap, however, Martin’s family have started a fundraising campaign titled #MartinGoodeStandUp to help with the costs. Martin’s daughter Natalie set up a JustGiving page last week, with the aim of raising half of the total needed. To date they’ve already raised an incredible £4902, 81% of their initial target.
In addition to receiving donations from friends, family, and supporters far and wide, the first fundraising event in aid of #MartinGoodeStandUp took place last weekend. A bake sale and raffle was held at Anjels Hair & Beauty Salon in Langley Green, raising over £220 for the cause.
Speaking about the success of the #MartinGoodeStandUp campaign so far, Natalie told the Croydon Advertiser, “It was overwhelming to see how much people have been supporting us so far. I didn’t expect it to get the reaction it has. Everyone seems to love him for some reason!”
From their official campaign Facebook page, it’s clear to see why Martin is so loved. In the face of adversity, he has shown great strength and goes about his day to day life with a big smile and bundles of positivity. It’s evident that a standing wheelchair would have a remarkable impact on Martin’s life and here at Fuzzable we are rooting for the Goode family and their incredible campaign.
If you wish to donate or find out more about the #MartinGoodeStandUp campaign then click here. You can also follow the campaign’s progress on Facebook.
