AN EDEN mum-of-two who suffers from a life-changing syndrome is looking forward to regaining her independence after receiving a £500 grant to pay for a mobility scooter.

Rebecca Stott, from Appleby, suffers with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which causes her joints to dislocate.

She relies on a manual wheelchair, and other people, to get around, and extreme fatigue makes completing everyday tasks a challenge for Rebecca.

This lack of independence has left her feeling incredibly isolated.

It has also made life difficult for her young family who cannot do many of the everyday things other families take for granted, from going to the park with the children to simply collecting them from school.

But after applying for a grant from insurance company Engage, Rebecca is set to win back her freedom.

“The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome makes it very difficult for me to be mobile," she said. "It impacts on my joints, gives me pain in muscles and causes intestinal problems too - it makes life very hard. I struggle to walk very far and need to use crutches at all times or a manual wheelchair when outdoors.

“You don’t realise what the little things means to you until you can’t do them anymore. Walking your children to school or playing the park may seem like such everyday things, but being unable to do them is agonising.

“The mobility scooter will give me so much more than my freedom. It will mean I can really get to know my children because I can spend more quality time with them and keep up with them entirely. They’re incredibly excited too. They can’t wait to get out and about with their mum – and I really can’t wait to spend time with them too."

Nigel Hunter, head of community at Engage, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to help Rebecca spend some fun, outdoor time with her family and hopefully improve her quality of life. Living with the syndrome must be very challenging and we’re thrilled to be able to help her reclaim some of her freedom and live life to the fullest."