Help free Diane's wheelchair

This page is for my disabled friend Diane.

She needs our help to get her wheelchair out of customs. Diane’s dream is to be able to go out onto the beach and on nature trails. She has used most of her savings to buy an all terrain wheelchair and ship it from America. After trying one last year (pictured), she found out about a man in America whose passion is to build custom fitting all terrain wheelchairs from other chairs to keep costs down. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that she would be charged GST of $1135 and she also needs $500 for a battery as one was not shipped with the wheelchair. She doesn't have the money to pay for either. She has appealed to customs but has been told that the GST can’t be waived. So the wheelchair remains in customs storage at $5.50 per day. Diane has cerebral palsy and brittle bone disease. Most of her weekly allowance goes on rent and has barely enough to buy food. Life has been a struggle from birth with lots of accidents along the way and numerous broken bones due to her disease. Even though she has been in a wheelchair for many years she has remained positive in her outlook to life. With the recent passing of her mother she has lost a huge part of her support system. Being in the outdoors is a key to what keeps her going. Diane would love to explore the beach with her dog Chester and get into the natural environment for the peace and tranquility. Please give a little to give Dianne a little more freedom to explore nature’s beauty that warms her soul. Thank you so much. Angela.

From Diane:

I not only lost my mother in Feb last year, but my son's fiancee in June at 23 then in November I borrowed a old power wheelchair as mine was in transit. It collapsed while visiting friends and thru me on the boat ramp at Foxton Beach. Resulting in fractured neck of femur, fractured shaft of tibia, fracture of femur, dislocation and fracture of hip. While in hospital also got a compression fracture of spine. I was in hospital November to March this year. Last 12 months have been the most challenging of my life. Wondered if at times if I would pull thru. If it wasn't for my loyal dog who got help for me, I am not sure if I would and the loving support of my 24 year old son, cousins and friends. The beach is my haven, sanity. It brings me inner peace and puts a smile on my face. Without a motorized beach wheelchair I can no longer get on the beach. I have been a competitive swimmer, run my own small swim school, a childcare assistant and most importantly a single mum since my son was 18 months old, now 26 all from my wheelchair. I was born with osteo-genesis imperfect a (brittle bones) and mild cerebral palsy plus a few others. Just names.

I have been a survivor but now at 54 with major health issues, I need some help to get my wheelchair of the wharf and gain some sanity and inner peace. I used every cent to buy, freight this wheelchair but has not counted on extra custom charges. My mum was not wealthy and spent a lot helping me over the years. When she died suddenly I knew with my share of her inheritance I wanted to get this wheelchair. Every time I sit in it, I will feel her close to me. My dog Chester finishes the equation and we will be able to have so much fun together, at the place we love best and where I feel the happiest. I will get back in the ocean one day and this wheelchair will take me there. I have done a lot of research. I lost money on a chair that said it could do the things I wanted but within a month it had broken down so many times, that I sent it back, losing the deposit I had put on it.

The "beast" as my new wheels are called, won't do this.

Appreciate your help in getting my "wheels" of the wharf.