Williamstown’s Kate Skene says she feels like her community wrapped its arms around her after people donated thousands towards her new wheelchair.
The disability advocate was eligible for partial government funding – but to receive it, she had to raise $5500 herself.
“My church, Williamstown Church of Christ – and my church is absolutely amazing, they were probably the main instigators of it – they suggested I start a GoFundMe page,” Ms Skene said. “Within a month, we had the $5500.”
Ms Skene, 41, received her new wheels – dubbed “Barney the Purple Wheelchair” – last Thursday.
The power had been cutting out on her former wheelchair, which was about 10-years-old and past its use-by date.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 19 while in her second year of university studying to be a kindergarten teacher, Ms Skene completed her degree and went on to teach.
She later went returned to university to do her masters and today volunteers twice a week at Robina Scott Kindergarten.
Ms Skene said her GoFundMe page, called “Let’s Get Kate Some Wheels”, had become
“a real community project”.
“I still get comments from people on the street I don’t even know saying, ‘When’s it coming, when’s it coming, I put $20 in the plate for you’,” she said.
“When the world’s gone nuts and is full of bad news, this was a really good news story.
“It was just incredible. This is the only way I can think of to say a big genuinely heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Williamstown and the wider community for getting me some wheels.”
