A DISABLED student from Bradford is able to return to university after the public raised more than £15,000 for a high-tech wheelchair - which means he can now carry on with his studies.
22-year-old Adeel Amjad who studies bio-medical genetics degree at the University of Huddersfield was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy when he was 15.
Now, he has received a bespoke wheelchair with specialised features that will allow him to access the science benches at university.
Adeel’s mum, Saima Nazir, said: “The chair has come all the way from Germany, and it did take a bit of time but it was definitely worth the wait.
Adeel's goal in life is to go to university and find a cure and fix himself and others in the same situation, because currently there is no cure for this condition, there is no cure and there is no medication. If he didn’t get this chair nothing would be possible”
Saima said: "It is just amazing. Adeel was able to go back to uni, and he's got more of his own independence now because he can get around more on his own. We're so thankful to everyone who donated."
Adeel was able to return to university this week thanks to the features on the new chair, and Saima said he had a "fantastic" time.
She added: “He just couldn’t have gone back to uni without it because he can't get on and off the seating, uni was coming closer and he was getting stressed, so my friends encouraged me to set up the fundraiser.
"I don’t usually ask for anything and I was surprised Adeel let me set it up,” she said.
The crowdfunding page was set up at the end of last year, and raised more than £15,000 in less than a month.
She added: "I’m absolutely surprised at how much was raised, people have been helped by doing car washes and things like that. I didn’t think we would be able to raise that amount of money, I was really shocked.
“We’re both so grateful, this is a massive step for him, this wheelchair will set him for life and make him really independent because he won't have to rely on me or anyone else.”
Now Adeel is hoping to carry on with his education and is considering a Masters degree. Saima added that now he has got the new chair, he can consider learning to drive.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here