Marinel Merced Salas hasn't added a story.
Hi, everyone! For those who don't know me well, my name is Marinel. I'm married to my wonderful husband, Alex. We have 3 daughters: Rylee, who is 16, Lilly, who is 13, and Anna who is 5. We've lived in Pennsylvania for the last 9 years. In those 9 years, I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, hypertension, Degenerative Disk Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis , Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and a seizure disorder, among other things. I have severe fatigue and pain, making it extremely difficult to walk long distances. Some days I can barely walk at all, and I use a cane to get around. I suffer from Post-exertional malaise, as well, so anytime I do try to "push" myself to participate in anything physical, I pay for it physically for days! It's so painful to have to disappoint my girls and tell them that Mommy just can't play with them outside or go for a walk at the park or walk at the mall because my body just can't keep up. Over-exerting myself now triggers seizures, so I have to be very careful. My many daily medications cause weight gain, also. And it's extremely difficult to lose any weight when my body won't cooperate! These conditions that I have all limit me physically, but I refuse to let them stop me from living and enjoying my life !
I believe that having this Alinker walking bike would make a dramatic difference for me! It would allow me to be more active and involved with my kids and definitely enable me to participate in more walking & outdoor activities! I have read many stories of others whose lives have been transformed by owning an Alinker walking bike and being able to be a part of life again! If you would like to read about the amazing Alinker walking bike, check it out at www.thealinker.com.
Because of how limiting and disabling all of my conditions are, I am unable to work and we have a limited budget. All of our "extra" money goes to support our family, and so walking and outdoor activities are what we do for fun. My physical limitations make it extremely difficult to enjoy these activities with my family, and spend quality time with them enjoying the beautiful outdoors. I am most looking forward to walks with my family on the peninsula near our home, enjoying nature while riding my Alinker walking bike.
Would you please consider donating towards my Alinker Walking bike fund? It would really be a dream come true for me to be able to purchase this mobility device and it would make such a dramatic difference for me and my family!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my cause!
<3, Marinel
Saludos a Todos! A los que no me conocen bien, mi nombre es Marinel (Salas Merced). Soy casada. Mi esposo maravilloso se llama Alex. Juntos, tenemos 3 hijas : Rylee de 16 años, Lilly de 13 años, y Anna Claire, de 5 años. Llevamos 9 años viviendo en Pennsylvania. En esos 9 años, he sido diagnosticada con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico, Fibromialgia, Artritis Reumatoide, hipertensión, enfermedad degenerativa del disco, y un trastorno convulsivo, junto con varias otras cosas. Tengo fatiga y dolor fuerte, los que me hacen muy difícil caminar a larga distancia. Otros días, no puedo casi caminar, y necesito un bastón para ayudar con balance. También sufro con malestar post-esfuerzo, así que cuando me intento forzar a participar en actividades fisicas, mi cuerpo me castiga por dias después! Pero más que el dolor físico, es el dolor que sufro al tener que decirle a mis hijas que Mamá no puede jugar con ellas afuera, o llevarlas al parque, dar una vuelta caminando por el vecindario o el Mall, porque el dolor me limita tanto, y no tengo casi fuerza en las piernas. Sobre esforzarme ahora me causa convulsiones, y tengo que tener mucho cuidado. Por mis condiciones médicas, necesito tomar muchos medicamentos diariamente, y me causan aumento de peso. Es super dificil bajar de peso cuando mi cuerpo no quiere cooperar conmigo! Todas estas enfermedades me limitan físicamente, pero no permitiré que me quiten la felicidad y me impide que disfrute y viva mi vida!
Yo creo que adquiriendo este dispositivo de movilidad, un Alinker Walking Bike, haría una diferencia dramática en mi vida! Me permitirá ser mucho más activa y me permitiría hacer más actividades con mis hijas, y definitivamente podría participar en actividades caminando y afuera! E leido muchos testimonios de personas como yo, las cuales vidas han sido transformadas al poder tener un Alinker Walking Bike, y han podido disfrutar de sus vidas de nuevo! Si quisiera leer un poco sobre el asombroso Alinker Walking Bike, visite este link: www.thealinker.com .
Por lo limitante que son mis condiciones médicas, no es posible que yo trabaje, y por consecuencia tenemos un presupuesto muy limitado. Todo nuestro dinero “extra” lo usamos para mantener a nuestro hogar, nuestra familia, y los gastos diarios. Pues las actividades gratis- caminando afuera, visitando el parque, y otras actividades afuera- es lo que hacemos para diversión. Mis limitaciones físicas lo hacen extremadamente difícil disfrutar de estas actividades con mi familia, y pasar tiempo de calidad con ellos disfrutando de la bella naturaleza. Espero pronto poder caminar con mi familia por la península cerca de nuestra casa, y pasar bien el tiempo con ellos mientras uso mi Alinker Walking Bike.
Considerarias donar a mi fondo para un Alinker Walking Bike? En realidad sería un sueño realizado para mi poder obtener este dispositivo de movilidad y haría una diferencia dramática para mi y también mi familia!
¡Muchas gracias por sacar tiempo para leer sobre esta causa para mi!
<3, Marinel
The campaigns are about sharing. Most people have no idea what life is like when you live with MS or what happens after you have a stroke. Isolation is often a bigger problem than the symptoms of the disease itself. With the campaigns we can share and educate people, because it can happen to all of us. When we create a movement where people simply show up for each other, it might get a bit ‘safer’ and less ‘scary’ to engage with each other. Some people share their experiences on their campaign, others share their funds to support the campaigns. It is not about asking for money, it is creating an opportunity for people to learn and show up with #generosity. Being generous resonates with who we are as humans. We understand generosity deeply and when you practice it, you feel so much better
PLEASE NOTE
- The campaigns are in USD $, and since to the pandemic the price increased from September onwards $2950 USD. This includes the Alinker, shipping, process and campaign fees and our #AlinkerFamily support.
- The campaigns are all or nothing, no credit cards are charged unless the campaign reaches its goal.
- As soon as the campaign reaches its goal, we ship an Alinker (from direct stock or you'll be placed in line, delivery 6-8 weeks).
- Campaigners do not handle money. On disability or welfare, you cannot handle money without being penalized, but you can receive an Alinker !
- When the campaign raises more than the goal, the campaigner can chose another campaign which we then make the donation to, paying it forward, or the balance will be placed in our Collective Campaign to help future campaigners.
- If you want to start a campaign and are outside Canada or the USA, write an email to stephanie@thealinker.com. We can potentially get a shipping quote to where you live, and include that in the campaign goal, though we like to keep shipping at a minimum, so we will not ship anywhere beyond $250 shipping costs.
Together we build a movement of kindness and generosity, because we all need it
Why do we facilitate crowdfunding on our site?
We believe that the Alinkers should be available for everybody, regardless of income and people who start a crowdfunding campaign here, will have access to a life changing Alinker. These crowdfunding campaigns are the first step to make Alinkers available for everybody. BE and the Alinker company are now putting their energy together to build a generous community around all the campaigners! The campaigners are people who allow others to show up generously, give them love!
Here is the Alinker segment as was aired on CBS Innovation Nation October 2019 - https://youtu.be/pk96VDkJ9NU
Why an Alinker?
Generally, medical devices are a technical solution for a body with a
problem.
The Alinker is designed for who we are, a whole human
being, who wants to live an active and engaged life. We are a human,
we have a body. Whether we miss a leg of have MS, it does not change
who we are.
Yet the world we live in, treats us as a body with a problem, which creates a social divide between people based on their body, based on what we have, not on who we are. Isolation and loneliness are more devastating than the disease itself. So we need to show up for each other, acknowledge each other and be present to who we are.
These campaigns are here to bridge the gap between a high quality custom Alinker, and the people who live at the receiving end of a 'sickcare' system that drives people into poverty.
So, show up, be radically generous, it is something we humans really
understand.
When you read each story in each campaign, pause and
imagine who that person is, and why they started the campaign, reach
out to them, let them know they are surrounded and seen, heard and not
alone. When we do that, we feel better and create a safer community
where we know we can show up for each other. It connects us with our
essence, we are radically generous creatures, we just got a little
lost in systems that are not designed for our wellness.
Alinkers change lives, here are a few people
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
Who is the Alinker for?
The Alinker is for people who want to stay active, regardless of mobility challenges.
To operate and use the Alinker you must have the ability to:
- walk to some degree
- flex and extend your legs
- bear weight on one leg briefly while getting on and off the Alinker
- be consciously aware of your surroundings
- be aware of your ability and limitations
What is the Alinker?
The Alinker is an exceptionally cool, three-wheeled walking bike
for humans with mobility constraints. It’s not a medical device,
it’s a lifestyle tool, designed to enable users to lead active and
socially engaged lives — at eye level.
On the Alinker, users sit upright -- at eye level with standing
companions. Weight is supported by the seat with no stress on the
lower body, while handle bars provide additional support. Feet remain
on the ground, keeping users stable and safe.
GO TO CROWDFUND, WHY, HOW, START
Together we'll make this work, in kindness and from the heart
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