I am Carmelo Charles Cassar and at the age of 15, I was diagnosed with Beckers Muscular Dystrophy. In spite of all this I continued to live a normal life, I went to the Bighi Boys Trades School in Kalkara to learn the trade of an Electrician.

Today I am 54 years, old married to Joanne Cassar, and we have a 16-year-old daughter.

At the age of 18, the first symptoms of the disease began to appear and at the age of 44, I ended up in a wheelchair.

Despite my limitations, I met my wife Joanne who promised to support me forever.

This woman was my strength in every moment and situation. I don’t know what I would do without her.

Over the years the disease continued to worsen and I began to fall often. Although I ended up in a wheelchair I did not give up and continued to work and drive. I bought a portable mini scooter to go to work and to go out so that I could continue with my normal life with my family.

I modified the car I had so that I could keep driving.

Three years ago I had to stop driving completely because my health continued to deteriorate and I needed a specially modified car for me to be able to enter with a wheelchair from the back to the steering wheel.

We had to sell my wife’s car and we bought a Toyota Ractis Wellcab so she drive me whenever it was needed. But I wasn’t feeling comfortable putting all of the burden to cope with everything.

I kept looking for a suitable van or car for me. I had seen the van of a person who had a similar condition to mine and I contacted him.

He told me that he had bought it for more than €150,000. When he told me that, I gave up.

A few months later I heard that this person left this world. At first, I was shocked to hear the news.

I let a few months pass and I mustered the courage to look for his relatives. I asked if they were going to sell the van and they told me that its price is €100,000 which is a reasonable price for the modifications it has.

I am ready to buy it, even if I find a van similar to it with the necessary modifications and being sold at a cheaper price – as long as it is suitable for me.

Now I plucked up the courage and posted an announcement on Facebook asking for the help of the Maltese and the Gozitans to raise funds for this van or to buy a similar suitable van with the necessary modifications which will help me live as independently as I can.

Carmelo wants to raise €100,000 to cover the cost of this van, which can be operated by his powered wheelchair, as well as the modifications the vehicle needs.

“Your support would mean the world to me. With your help, I can regain my independence, participate more actively in my community, and enjoy a better quality of life. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me one step closer to achieving this dream.”

This van will be equipped with a joystick instead of a traditional steering wheel and a voice command ignition system, enabling him to drive safely and independently.

If you’re willing to lend a helping hand, click here.

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