A young man from Glen Vine is asking for the public to help fund a specialised wheelchair worth £25,000.

Joseph Fleming, aged 19, has set up a crowdfunding page to raise enough donations to replace his Permobil wheelchair which is coming to the end of its life after nearly 10 years.

Joseph is the only person in the Isle of Man to suffer from Spinal Muscular Atrophy - a rare genetic disease that affects the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.

His condition means he relies heavily on having a wheelchair.

He said: ’My Permobil wheelchair is coming to the end of its life and now needs replacing. I use Permobil because they are the only company that provides the specialised "feather touch" controller that I have used since I was four.

’The last chair that the NHS attempted to give me took three years, three separate wheelchairs, countless meetings involving up to 11 people and ceased working days after I got it home. Needless to say, it caused a fair amount of stress.’

The former Queen Elizabeth High School student said that his wheelchair allows him to get out of bed and helps with his breathing and eating.

He explained: ’I enjoy playing video games and watching movies with my dad. I am also attempting to write a sci-fi/fantasy novel, when life doesn’t get in the way that is. I rely on my Permobil wheelchair to do any of this.’

He added that his dad is going to the United States for an expensive cancer treatment, which is why he’s calling for help.

’If I have a new chair, dad can focus on getting himself better again instead of worrying that my chair is going to break down any day now. So please, donate whatever you can and help me keep my independence,’ he said.

The current amount raised through his fundraising page is about £8,500.

’The response to my crowdfunding page has been amazing beyond all description,’ he said.

Visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/joseph-fleming-1