Lisa from Birmingham lives with multiple sclerosis (MS). She first came across Olio in 2022, when a good friend told her about it, and she’s been using it ever since.
Over the years, she’s picked up all sorts of free finds on the app: clothes, shoes, a USB electric fan, and a large canvas of the New York skyline that lights up when you switch it on – that’s where Lisa and her husband William got married in 2013.
Then one day, Lisa struck gold when she found a free exercise bike.
“I always try to keep as mobile as possible, but when I saw the exercise bike on Olio, I thought, why not? When the weather is bad, I can still keep mobile. Considering the bike was free it’s been worth its weight in gold! ”
When Lisa first got the bike, the milometer read just 6 km – now it’s at 1,213 km. Lisa started riding whenever she couldn’t get outside, often with an audiobook playing, which helps her go for miles without realising it.
“It has enabled me to keep active and fight this disease, even when the weather is bad outside. I also had a USB electric fan I collected from Olio situated in front of the bike to cool me down when we get the heatwaves. It’s amazing!”
Last year, William spent a lot of time in hospital after two bouts of pneumonia and the exercise bike helped him through his recovery too.
“It’s helped with my mobility issues having MS, and also my husband when he was getting over two bouts of pneumonia last year, which caused a lot of muscle wastage. It’s helped us both so much! “
The bike has also helped Lisa to give back.
“It’s helped me raise over £10,000 for various charities including the MS Society, MND Association, Cancer Research, Humanimal Trust, British Heart Foundation, Friends of the Earth and more.”
Lisa started to raise money for charities with a 50K challenge in May for the MS society. After that, Lisa kept setting herself new challenges, sometimes walking, sometimes on the bike, and each one raised money for a charity close to her heart.
One of the challenges Lisa completed with her husband William. Together, they took on 100 miles, following a virtual route around New York, for the MND Association, after the disease took Lisa’s uncle a few years ago.
“As it was a virtual challenge, you put in your mileage each day and it would show you on the map where you were. Every time you passed 20% of the challenge, the organisers would plant a tree in your honour, whether it be in the UK or worldwide. So again, you were doing good!”
Lisa’s latest challenge has been raising money for the British Heart Foundation, in honour of William, who lives with heart failure and was due to have a heart operation the day after his birthday. She set her target at £500, but managed to raise £700!
“I’m so proud of how brave he is. That’s why I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit and dwell and stress. I had to do something to keep my mind occupied. Stress is not good for my condition.”
What does Olio mean to you?
“It’s amazing what you can find on Olio and people are so kind! It’s such a great way of recycling rather than throwing things away. I’m always recommending it to others and we were able to get rid of a lot of furniture when my mother in law passed away, she would be happy that her items were going to people that needed them. I absolutely LOVE Olio! I have to admit I’m an addict!!!”