A Banbury woman has thanked the community after it came together to raise more than £1,000 to buy her a life-changing mobility aid.

Isabel McGeever launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy a rollator after a workplace accident left her with mobility issues and chronic back pain.

Thanks to generous donations from the community, the 27-year-old from Banbury was able to collect her new rollator on Thursday, July 16.

Isabel says the mobility aid will significantly improve her day-to-day life and allow her to spend more time with family and friends.

Isabel has thanked the Banbury community for supporting her fundraising campaign to purchase a life-changing rollator.

placeholder image — Isabel has thanked the Banbury community for supporting her fundraising campaign to purchase a life-changing rollator.

She said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser or sent kind messages.

“It really means so much to know people wanted to help, and I'm so grateful to everyone who made this possible.”

Isabel, who has lived with health challenges since 12, was injured at age 18 when she was partially crushed between mobile shelving units whilst working at her retail job.

At first, she thought the injury would heal within weeks, but she has suffered chronic lower back pain and reduced mobility for the past nine years.

The rollator will allow Isabel to leave the house more comfortably and spend more time with friends and family.

Isabel says she has undergone numerous doctor's appointments, MRI scans, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture treatment, but nothing has provided lasting relief.

Describing the pain, Isabel said: “It's a constant dull ache. There is always a baseline of pain, which unfortunately, as anyone with chronic pain will tell you, you kind of get used to it.”

The pain forced Isabel to move to a desk job and left her lacking confidence when leaving the house.

She said shopping trips and other activities often require her to stop and rest every five to 10 minutes, something that is not always possible and can lead to anxiety and stress.

While Isabel still lives with chronic pain, the rollator will give her greater freedom by providing both physical support and a seat whenever she needs to rest.

As well as thanking everyone who supported her fundraiser, Isabel hopes her story will encourage people to think twice before making assumptions about those living with invisible disabilities.

“I think it's a really big misconception that if you've done something enjoyable, people assume you must be fine,” she said.

“For example, I love going to theme parks. I very rarely go, but I do really enjoy them, and it's always an amazing time with friends.

“What people don't see is the amount of tablets I'm taking, how much I have to sit down, and the days afterwards that I have to spend resting because I have to plan for the pain.”

Isabel said many people living with chronic illnesses face similar misunderstandings because their conditions are not always visible.

She said: “You just don't know what someone is going through. People are very quick to think, 'Oh, they look fine,' and assume they don't need help, but actually you never know what's happening behind the scenes.”

She said the fundraising campaign had restored more than just her mobility.

“This rollator is going to make such a difference to my independence,” she said. “I honestly can't thank everyone enough for helping me reach the goal.”

Isabel will keep her fundraiser open, with any future donations going towards other mobility aids.

For more information or to donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-izzy-get-the-mobility-aid-she-needs