Rachel’s bid to raise funding for lift at home
AWOMAN who has been diagnosed with a very rare condition that turns her muscles into bone is desperately fundraising to help install a lift in her home.
Rachel Winnard, 35, from Rochdale, suffers from the debilitating Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) which severely impacts her movement.
One of only 800 known cases worldwide, Rachel’s condition is causing her to form a second skeleton and she can no longer move her arms or legs freely.
Though she was born with FOP, her illness has recently become much worse.
She told the Observer: “Basically I have got an illness where muscle turns to bone and it’s recently been having a really bad effect on my right leg.
“Then a few weeks ago I fell on it and it’s caused it to be even worse.”
An independent person, Rachel likes to be able to do things on her own but has been unable to as a result.
Her husband Paul, 38, has had to become a full time carer for his wife and even has to resort to pulling her up the stairs every day.
Rachel has been reduced to tears daily by the situation which she says has become a “nightmare”.
Unable to attend many social events or see her friends much, Rachel has had to rely on Paul for everything.
They hope that their fundraising campaign will bring in the £18,000 they need to have a lift installed in their Meanwood property, and replace a few steps with a slope.
“I am desperate for this lift because I am struggling with the stairs,” Rachel said.
“We don’t want to move because we bought our own house and we can’t afford to move.
“We can’t buy a bungalow because they’re too expensive. The lift is the next best option.”
They have already had a wet room fitted, their kitchen adapted and hope that the lift would mean they could remain there.
Without it, Rachel fears they might have to move house.
Rachel added: “We have got everything we need in the house apart from the lift – I can’t even tell you how important it would be. It would be major.”
To donate visit www. gofundme.com/f/liftaccess-from-downstairsto-my-bedroom