Get the Benny-mobile up and running again!

We are trying to raise funds on behalf of Karen and Ben to fix or replace Ben's disability transport vehicle. We all know what a warm, caring, hardworking woman Karen is and how much fun and happiness she exudes. She is inspiring in how she handles the difficulties in her life, and asks for very little.

Ben , now 14, has Spastic distonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. Ben leads a very busy lifestyle attending mainstream schooling, participating in Same Waves Nippers at Cooks Hill and enjoying camping trips and music festivals. He has frequent medical appointments at John Hunter and Westmead and weekly hydrotherapy and physiotherapy. 2021 and 2022 have been large medical/surgical years for Ben, with insertion of an Intrathecal Baclofen Pump at Westmead in November 2021 with 4-week admission and May 2022 JHH admission for Surgical correction of Fixed flexion contracture of right knee and Bilateral wrist flexion contractures. Ben remains on the waiting list at JHH for Surgery on his left knee and upcoming Spinal surgery for correction of Scoliosis. All of these responsibilities require functional and reliable transportation - something Ben and Karen have not had recently.

The second hand ex-community transport van Karen was able to purchase in 2020 is large enough to manage both Ben's manual and electric wheelchairs and his portable lifter. However, due to budget restraints, the van purchased had very high kilometres and unfortunately experienced a recent radiator hose failure and now requires a replacement engine and transmission. This comes at a significant cost, and as Karen can only work two days per week currently, any amount we could give would help her immensely.

The dream is to have the funds available to purchase a brand new van - if this happens, the NDIS will fund a new lifter for the vehicle. At the very least, we would love for Karen to be able to cover the costs of the repairs to the existing van without worry. Please give if you are able; any help is so greatly appreciated.