Help Joanne and Mercy with the gift of mobility

Hello family and friends, Central Coasties, single/sole parents, parents with children with a disability, people who have lost loved ones to depression and any other generous community minded people!

We are raising money for our sister and friend Joanne McSweeny.

A young 26-year-old lady stopped to lend assistance to a woman in a car accident and in a split second her life was changed forever. In a freak accident Joanne McSweeny was hit by a car and sustained horrific spinal injuries. After a few days in hospital her family were gathered together and told that Joanne was a paraplegic and would never walk again.

After a very long recovery in hospital and months of rehabilitation Joanne got on with her life and achieved many things including a university degree. She met a man and fell in love and was gifted with the joy of children and their wonderful family life. Several years later tragedy struck again when the father of her young children succumbed to mental illness and took his own life.

Joanne McSweeny is a very proud woman and would be the last person to ask for help. In fact, she would be the first to comment “There are so many people in more need than me”. But the reality is that she does need our help. Now, 30 years on from her accident our Disability Support system is not enough.

The simple facts are:

• Joanne is a paraplegic living on a disability pension.

• Joanne has raised her three children as a single parent for over 15 years.

• Her youngest daughter Mercy (now 20) was born with cerebral palsy and is totally dependent on her mother Joanne.

Being confined to a wheelchair is not just about the loss of losing use of your legs. There are other physical and mental complications which over time affect the body and make it unsustainable to work. Joanne also takes on the huge responsibilities as a single parent of a dependent young adult with a disability.

For those who know Joanne she is a very independent woman. This independence is heavily reliant on having access to her own reliable transport. A reliable car enables Joanne and Mercy to maintain independence, access vital health appointments and the freedom to participate in physical activities, entertainment and social engagement with family and friends.

OUR GOAL

Joanne is in urgent need of a new car as her car that she has had for over 10 years is now inoperable. As a single parent, after covering basic costs of living ie rent & raising her family, Joanne has been unable to put away savings for a new car.

Our goal is to raise enough funds for Joanne and Mercy to buy a new car and also cover all the associated costs. The costs to modify the car for a paraplegic driver can be quite expensive and whilst some may be covered by NDIS there are strict rules around the age of the vehicle. Any additional monies raised would be used to cover registration, insurance, maintenance and fuel. Thanks to your generosity Joanne & Mercy may also be able to purchase some mobility aids that will assist them in the future.

YOUR DONATION

Your donation, no matter how small or large, will make a huge difference in both Joanne’s and Mercy’s life. The saying goes “from little things big things grow”.

So, any donation that you can afford would be greatly appreciated.

With a little help from their friends, family, peers and community we can rally together to get them back on the road and into the community doing the things they love here on the beautiful Central Coast.

If you are a business and would like to support this cause we would love to chat with you.

THANK YOU