A severely-disabled woman has said a new £24,000 wheelchair would allow her to ‘enjoy the precious time she has left with her family and friends.’

Leanne Thompson, 44, of Maybank Road, South Woodford, suffers from a rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which has left her almost completely immobile and in constant pain.

Diagnosed with EDS in 1999, Leanne’s condition means she cannot sit down for more than hour without being in excruciating pain and cannot eat or drink.

She said: “I am never not in pain, and am bed bound most of the time.

“We have a hospital bed in our lounge, where I spend most of my days and nights. I can never be on my own and am always cared for by my family or my carers.”

Leanne’s current manual wheelchair has to be pushed by someone else, and can put her at risk.

She said: “My chair is not safe for me anymore.

“I suffer from autonomic attacks on a daily basis, which sometimes means I can lose consciousness and even fall out of my chair.”

After meeting with a company called Permobil, Leanne and her family are trying to raise £26,614.64 for a new multi-functional wheelchair.

“Unfortunately my illness is life limiting and potentially life threatening, so my time with my family is very precious, and I want to have the best quality of life while I can.

“The new chair would completely change everything and would give me back my independence.

“It will reduce the pain I am in and mean I can do things like take my dogs for my walk, which doesn’t sound like much, but it would mean everything to me.”

Leanne has raised £650 so far, along with the £1,618 voucher she received from Redbridge Wheelchair Service.

She said: “People who don’t suffer with this have no idea what it’s like but it would just make my life so much easier, as it’s pretty difficult at the moment.

“I am asking for anyone and everyone to consider helping me to raise the funds for this chair, it would help me and my incredible family so much.”

To donate, please see Leanne’s fundraising page.

https://www.gofundme.com/leannethompson