Help Megs get a Segway so she can keep up with her active kids!

Hi, I’m Megan, a 44 year old mum of three energetic girls (aged 12 and 9 year old twins).

We are fundraising to improve my quality of life by purchasing a Segway.

17 years ago I was diagnosed with MS; for the first seven years I was in the early (relapsing/remitting) stage but for the past 10 years I have been in the secondary progressive stage. This means my mobility has been affected, gradually worsening over time. I have been walking with a stick for the past 6 years, but am now at the stage where walking any distance, even with a stick, is difficult. MS affects everyone differently. For me the worse symptoms are weakness in my left arm and leg and the extreme fatigue.

What this means is that my ability to keep up with my young family is now severely reduced - and for a young mum, that’s the hardest part. My three girls are all very active with different sports. So my goal is to be able to take a more active part in our family life and do something to help my mobility.

Learning about Segways and how they have helped other people has been a real ray of hope!

Using a Segway, I’ll be able to get more involved in life - I will be able to get to the netball courts more easily to watch my girls, and not be so reliant on getting the closest possible park.

I’ll be able to watch them play Rippa Rugby too. These are often the hardest places to navigate, with all the uphill and downhill grass areas to get to the side of the field. I couldn’t stay to watch a tournament just the other week because the effort of getting just to first game, and then to the next had left me exhausted. That won’t happen with a Segway!

I could take the girls on a bike ride and keep up with them - I have always wanted to see the Orewa Cycleway!

We could take a ‘walk’ along Mission Bay waterfront like I remember doing when I was a child. I could join friends for walks on the beach too. Being able to do something like this will make me feel like a ‘normal’ mum and will be great for my mental health!

Even a trip to the mall will be less tiring and more enjoyable. At the moment any trip to the shops means going to one shop only and I rely on getting a disability park nearby. No park means no shopping - a nightmare at Xmas time!!

Having a Segway will also help me carry on doing the things I love to do to support my girls’ school. I have been the co-chairperson on the PTA for the past year and a half, and I’d be able to get around the school and attend our events more easily.

I know all this is possible, because I have found out that more than 120 people in NZ, including other people with MS, are already using them to help them live fuller lives. With its standard tyres on, a Segway is only as wide as a man’s shoulders, making it fit easily through doorways. But by changing the tyres you are also able to go off road, on grass and on soft sand. This means they can be used both outdoors and indoors if needed. I have been out to Segway New Zealand and spent time with the CEO, making sure this is right for me (see main photo) and using the ramps, I was able to manoeuvre it in and out of my car by myself. Being able to glide at the same pace as my family felt amazing!

I really believe that having this option to get around will give me a huge boost and help me fully take part in life again. If you are able to help in any little way with a donation, my family and I would be forever grateful.

Thank you

Megs x