A group of professional dog walkers from the Ilkley area have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Emma Nelson, owner of Merry Paws in Burley, after rare, irreversible side effects from cancer treatment left her unable to safely run her business alone.
The fund aims to cover the cost of a wheelchair and help allow Emma to continue to work in the job she loves.
Emma beat cancer following intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy, but the life-saving treatment caused radiation induced lumbosacral plexopathy (RILP), a chronic and rare neurological condition that severely affects mobility and function.
Fundraiser organiser Ashleigh Murphy said:
“Since being diagnosed just two years ago, she has already lost most of the power in her legs and struggles daily with excruciating pain, making it increasingly difficult to walk without falling, increasing her pain levels and becoming fatigued.
“Despite this, Emma is determined to try and continue doing what she loves best. Giving dogs their best life when their mums and dads go on holiday. A job she loves with all her heart. She says of all of what she has been through, the thought of no longer being able to walk or walk the dogs, is the worst torture. She simply cannot imagine a life not outdoors with those waggy tails.”
Emma has applied for the Personal Independence Payment which is a payment given to help those with disabilities cover the extra costs of living e.g. a wheelchair, ramps, converting the home to be able to live in it etc. Ironically, because she walks the dogs, even though it leaves her unable to do anything else, not even to stand and cook tea, she has not been given the mobility allowance which would help her put towards a wheelchair and continue to work in the job she loves.
Ashleigh adds:
“For this reason, we have created this fundraiser in order for Emma to be able to get the chair she needs to keep her MerryPaws dream alive....”
To donate to the fundraiser please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/emma-get-a-wheelchair-and-keep-her-merrypaws-dream-alive
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