A disabled mum-of-two from Hounslow is trying to raise £5,000 for a special exercise bike she says will give her back her independence.
Janette Irvine, of Turnpike Way, Isleworth , was born with cerebral palsy, and the 45-year-old has always used a wheelchair.
But arthritis in her ankles and a pulled thigh muscle mean she now finds it painful to use the chair for long periods.
She is growing increasingly frustrated at having to spend much of her time confined to her bed, and believes a specially adapted exercise bike could be the answer.
She can use the Medimotion bike from her wheelchair to aid her rehabilitation and give her the strength to spend more time on the move.
The only problem is that the bike costs £5,000, and she is relying on public donations to pay for the equipment.
'I just want my life back'
"Being in bed all the time means I've lost a lot of strength and it's difficult for me to get mobile again and regain my independence," she said.
"I was able to rent the bike for a short period and it really helped me build up my muscles, but I couldn't afford the payments.
"I just want my life back. I'm fed up with being stuck in bed and never going out.
"If I get the bike I can put in the hard work needed to get my mobility back but I need people's help to afford it."
Ms Irvine, who has a five-year-old son called Finlay and a daughter named Rhianna, aged 20, said she injured her thigh when she was in a taxi which went too quickly over a speed bump some two year ago.
Her condition has since declined and her lack of mobility has seen her put on a lot of weight, which she is desperate to shed so she does not have to rely on a hoist.
To make a donation, visit Ms Irvine's fundraising page.
