Sarah Tuncliffe and her fiancé have been planning their big day for quite a while, but transport problems have thrown a monkey wrench into the works.
Sarah suffers from muscular dystrophy, a condition she developed at age 16. The disease targets the muscles and over time robs many sufferers of coordination, and eventually, the ability to walk. Sarah stopped being able to walk unassisted a few years ago before she turned 40.
What’s the hold up? Sarah says there is a lack of affordable wheelchair-accessible transportation for hire. She used to have a car fitted specifically for her needs, but a financial crunch forced her to sell the vehicle. When she looked into renting a ride in a van that could accommodate a wheelchair, she got sticker shock.
The only accommodation she could find was a van that she would have to rent for three full days for a minimum of £600. All that for a ride that takes only 10 minutes.
What are her other options? Few. She could ride a public bus in her wheelchair with her dress on, which is not optimal. Sarah joked that she didn’t know about the legalities of riding down a highway on the back of a tractor trailer.
Taxis are not a good option either, as she would be forced to take her wheelchair apart, which her doctors have advised against.
About 10 years ago, Sarah figured she wouldn’t be getting married at all. She fell numerous times and broke bones, finally having to give up and restrict herself to a wheelchair. “That’s it, I’m not getting married now,” she thought to herself. Like many women, Sarah said she fantasized about a wedding with a flowing, white dress, but assumed that option was not in the cards for her.
But her soon-to-be-husband Jamie proposed to her in 2022, and she agreed.
Planning has not been easy. Just as finding transport is difficult, so was maneuvering around bridal shops, many of which were located upstairs making them off-limits to Sarah.
All in all, she’s taking it in stride, being thankful for the things she can have instead of dwelling on what’s out of reach. But still, the wedding is a month away, and the bride doesn’t know how she’s going to get to the church.
