Help Ro and Bea get a new vehicle!

Hello, friends: My name is Ro, and my fiancé Bea (31, she/her) and I (23, they/them) need some help.

Our 2009 Toyota Prius has been on the brink for over a year now, and this morning, the car has finally bit the dust. We have had to jump it to turn it on, every single time we needed to drive, since December 2022 - and that's just the biggest pre-existing issue. The car is either nearly totaled or fully totaled, accounting for the body work and repairs it needs; I haven't had it evaluated, because there is no way I can afford the repairs (it will cost multiple thousands of dollars to fix the existing damage).

This morning (2/22/24), we attempted to start the car and were faced with the realization that our car is no longer safe to drive - the engine is failing in a terrifying manner in which it never has before. This is a devastating realization for both of us; but particularly for me.

I live with a permanent disability (radiculitis) that causes pain radiating from the nerve roots that branch off of my spine, as a result of finding myself as the victim of a car accident 2 years ago in which another driver totaled my previous vehicle. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic illness that causes fatigue and pain on a daily basis, along with one hip that sits an inch higher than the other, which has caused lifelong lumbar issues. All of these ailments make even moderate physical movement extremely difficult for me on a very regular basis, and make having access to my own vehicle a crucial part of my survival as an adult. Not to mention: I need much more regular hospital visits than the average person due to the disabilities listed above and the other health issues I struggle with, and am faced with having to rely on paying for an Uber, finding a friend, or paying a $2,500 ambulance bill every time I need emergency medical attention - none of which are satisfactory solutions to this concern.

I am a raver and event organizer. You probably know me from the Seattle rave scene - hello! I hate to tout my credentials or what have you, but over the last year I have volunteered for 4+ different rave crews for nothing but the love of the scene (which has included offering up my car nearly every single time). I have dedicated countless miles on the Prius's odometer to the Seattle rave scene. This car has, with zero sarcasm, been the reason why two different raves were able to even take place because of last-minute emergencies; my ability to drive even earned me the (unserious) title of 'rave savior' last May.

When I first landed in Seattle, I was unemployed, mentally unwell, and had no money. I received rental assistance, but aside from my rent being taken care of each month, I was so poor that I regularly couldn't even afford basic needs (think, like, toothpaste). For the first year and a half of my return to Seattle, I offered *anyone* and *everyone* a ride, just as my way of saying, 'thank you for taking me to cool things even though I can't afford much.' I have continued this attitude into the present, even though I no longer find myself unable to financially support myself and my household. In the most blunt terms: I understood that my car, and the freedom of a vehicle, was my offering to the greater good of our little neon corner of Seattle. I have offered to haul gear for countless shows; I have offered to drive folks to parties I wasn't invited to, and turned around and went home after dropping them off; I have offered rides to emergency services, and the grocery store at 11pm, and so many more. I took a massive pleasure in offering my car (and the freedom that comes with it) to those who didn't have access to their own car, as often as I could.

The reason I have chosen to elaborate on this so much is not because I feel that this community owes myself or my family anything - but rather, because I have hope that you may remember all the good this car has done for not just me, but this whole community. I hope maybe, you have enough fondness in your heart to throw some of your own resources our way, and help us continue to spread this love, along with supporting ourselves.

Only within the last year have I, personally, found stability. My disability needs have made finding and keeping a job extremely difficult for me. After spending the first half of 2023 desperately searching for employment that would allow me to be seated, I now feel very blessed by the universe to have a stable 9-5 job that I love. With the help of my amazing fiancé, I have made a full 180°, and the outlook on my future is really, really good, for the first time in my adulthood. However, because of this being a recent change for me, I have yet to accrue any real savings. I am still transitioning into this stability and find myself needing to reach out to this community for help. At this time last year, I was barely able to come up with $400/month for rent. I worked really, really hard to beat the odds and stabilize my life, but I'm not fully there yet. We need access to a new car as soon as possible, and we are looking into financing a vehicle even though neither myself nor Bea has ever financed anything, ever - but, in total honesty, we're scared about our ability to afford to take care of this on our own.

If you feel so inclined, please consider helping two key members of the Seattle rave scene who would greatly appreciate any help they can get right now.