"I never, ever thought my wheelchair would be stolen."
Those are the words of Kate Sanchez-Jarvis, a mum-of-two from Horsford who was shocked to find her lightweight specialist mobility aid had been pinched from the boot of her husband's car.
Kate, 46, was diagnosed with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in November 2008 and used a made-to-measure RGK Octane Sub4 Manual Wheelchair day-to-day.
But Kate now has secondary progressive MS, which means the symptoms or disability gets steadily worse.
Estimated to last her a decade, Kate only had her beloved wheels - in a distinctive electric purple - for two years before it was stolen sometime between March 16 and March 26, leaving her stranded at home.
The incident means Kate has lost all of her independence and can't attend necessary doctor and specialist MS consultant appointments at hospital.
"The chair was brilliant," she said.
"I love the purple.
"The new chair has to be exactly the same. I could lift it up with one hand.
"It was amazing."
The Sub4 only weighs 3.8kg meaning Kate, even when fatigued, can lift it with ease and ensures she maintains her independence.
"It would mean everything to have a chair again," Kate added.
"They're like legs I can depend on because I can't depend on my own any more.
"I can get about around the house and in the garden with a rollator, but for things like going to Eaton Park with my kids - which I love - with my wheelchair, it's like being free."
The chair, which costs around £7,000, is thought to have been sold for its scrap metal value of an estimated £100.
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Police told the couple that the boot of her husband Nick's car had been jimmied and there was noticeable damage to the car's exterior.
Nick also has MS and is a wheelchair user, meeting Kate through a social circle where they had an "instant connection".
The couple have been together since 2016 and married in 2021.
He added: "This has been a nightmare.
"It's highly-specialised kit and the key to Kate's independence.
"It took a lot of research getting the right chair for Kate.
"It's absolutely amazing so it's heartbreaking and soul-destroying that it's been stolen.
"As wheelchair users, it's an extension of ourselves. She wanted something that was part of her and it's been taken away.
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"We'd love to get it back, but we imagine it's long gone now."
In a fight to get her independence back, Kate has launched a fundraiser to cover as much of the cost of a new chair as possible.
The couple are due to take part in a sailing flotilla in Athens with Oceans of Hope UK in May.
Oceans of Hope run sailing adventures for those affected by MS - with them all in the same boat both medically and physically - but the trip hangs in the balance as without a wheelchair, Kate can't travel.
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Kate and Nick are also both founders of Many Scars, which provides support, encouragement and friendship for those with MS and their loved ones.
Founded in 2017, Many Scars provides an outreach service and supports those who have been newly diagnosed and support others who may have not met anyone else with MS or simply want to talk about their condition.
Nick continued: "This wheelchair is Kate's independence.
"It took a while to sink in. It's a big deal.
"Kate's completely heartbroken.
"She told me she's run out of tears, she knows it's gone and just wants to move on."
Anyone with information about the theft can contact Norfolk police by calling 101 citing crime reference number 36/20962/23.
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