Rui Lopes, a 38-year-old resident of the Mação municipality, is married to Andreia Timóteo, and together they are the proud parents of a 4-year-old boy.

In 2024, Rui received an unexpected diagnosis: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disease that affects mobility, speech, and breathing, making each day a new challenge.

 

Despite this, Rui continues to face life with inspiring strength, unshakable humour, and a deep determination to make the most of every moment with his family.

 

The immediate goal is to ensure he can maintain, as much as possible, his autonomy and quality of life for as long as the disease allows.

To achieve this, urgent and costly adaptations are needed to help Rui continue living comfortably and safely:

 

🧑🏽‍🦽‍➡️ An electric wheelchair, to allow greater independence in his movements;

🚗  An adapted car, essential for transporting the wheelchair, with an estimated cost of €17,000 (used);

🛗  A 3-meter outdoor vertical lifting platform, enabling access to the family home, whose main floor is on the first floor (approximate cost: €19,000).

These adaptations are vital for Rui to preserve his mobility and dignity, allowing him to live the present with as much comfort as possible — surrounded by those he loves most.

💙 Let’s help Rui continue living with strength, independence, and love. Every contribution makes a difference.