An Adelaide couple has been overwhelmed with the generosity of strangers after they came to their assistance in their hour of need.

As revealed on Advertiser.com.au on Wednesday, multiple sclerosis sufferer Richard Johns, 54, relies on electric disability equipment to stay alive and has to be rushed to hospital within 10 minutes of a power outage.

He and his partner Pam, who live at McLaren Vale, cannot afford to buy a potentially lifesaving back-up generator to power Mr Johns equipment during blackouts so the Multiple Sclerosis Society sought funding from the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance Agency for a $2300 generator for him.

The couple’s home experiences frequent blackouts, particularly during summer.

However, the NDIA rejected the application on January 29, deeming the request “not reasonable or necessary,” despite Mr Johns needing a constant electricity supply to power equipment that helps him breathe, manage his choking risk and assist with bed mobility.

After The Advertiser published the couple’s plight, a GoFundMe page was created to raise money a generator for Mr Johns.

The page has easily bettered its target of $2500.

While strangers poured money into the campaign, charity organisation Novita and its subsidiary Novita Tech, which provides assistive equipment to people with disabilities, decided it wanted to help as well.

Novita chief operating officer Jeremy Brown said the charity would buy a generator for Mr Johns.

“It will be a loan until they no longer need it,” he said.

“We will deliver it (and) we will go out and make sure they can use it properly.”

Mr Brown said the generator was ordered on Thursday and he hoped it would arrive on Friday.

Because the organisation is a charity, Mr Brown said it welcomed any donations towards the cost of the generator.

NDIS Taskforce to help disabled people find work NDIS Taskforce to help disabled people find work

Donations can be made via Novita’s website.

Given Mr Johns’ extensive needs, money raised via the GoFundMe page will go towards other disability equipment.

Pam said that wanted to give “the biggest thanks in the world” to those who donated and Novita.

“You just wouldn’t believe how it much it means to us,” she said.

“I can’t believe there’s so many people out there who care — It was a big shock.”

While grateful and overwhelmed by the support, Pam expressed her disappointment at the NDIA.

“It’s not the people’s job to this — it’s the NDIA’s (job),” she said.

“What is a life worth? To them it’s nothing, they don’t care.”

The State Opposition, which had previously lobbied the NDIA and federal Human Services Minister Michael Keenan to no avail, on Wednesday called on the State Government to intervene to help Mr Johns.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink urged Mr Johns and Pam to contact her office so she could assist.

The GoFundMe page can be accessed via gofundme.com/power-generator-for-richard-johns.

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