Health on Wheels!

Hi, my name is Shelly, and I am raising funds for my friend Marie. She suffers from the same environmental illness/disability as I do- and when I was first diagnosed, she and one of her friends helped save me. Now, I am the one returning the favour! But, I NEED your HELP.

Our environmental disability is closely linked to mould and the chemicals used to create fragrances. For this reason, many of us are forced to live isolated within the four walls of our homes. Unfortunately, some, like Marie, cannot even do that and must turn to living elsewhere, like a van.

Van life, unlike the romanticism portrayed in movies, is not fun, especially not when the environment and so many chemicals not even detectable by most can cause so much agony for us. When exposed to even the tiniest amount of chemicals, Marie can experience muscle spasms, brain fog, severe breathing problems, and the inability to stand and speak to function as an average individual. Sadly, many are also dying from our disability very young, often linked to the failure to find a safe place to live. Help find Marie a safe place to live! For her, the van is the only possibility left.

Before you move on, I want you to take a moment and picture yourself waking up tomorrow with a rare disability and having to live in a van or outdoors. Your disability also causes chronic fatigue, among other things, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to work. And then your lifeline and shelter, your van, breaks down again. This time, it appears to be beyond repair. What would you do? Like many of us with this disability, housing can be challenging to find, and when you find safe housing, you will do just about anything to keep it. Help Marie remain safely housed.

There is no donation too small- any amount at all will help!

See Marie in Marie's own words and art!- check it out yourself:

The real Nomad life

Who says we need clean air A virtual project by M

Awareness one project at a time

Project Overdressed

The full story on project overdressed

Let's talk about van life for a moment. I want to eliminate people thinking she wants the van for fun. She needs the van to stay alive. Once she finds a van, it must be retrofitted to her needs. Any lubrication must be done with cooking oil or vaseline, not grease used by mechanics. A bed has to fit into the cargo area, storage for her clothing, food preparation and cooking, personal items, and more. Imagine packing up your entire life and living out of a van for the next 20 to 40 years. Not so romantic, is it?

******Marie had a previous GFM for repairs on her old van, but it is now beyond repair. The previous GFM funds will be used to get her through this winter- but MARIE, like all people, DESERVES BETTER. She deserves a safe home; for her, it is a newer van. We want to raise enough funds to purchase a newer van (this one is from the last century) so that she can live out her days in peace.