Fundraising efforts have paid off long before anyone thought for a young girl and her family who got their first look at their new adaptive van last week.
The Westlock Elks, who were heavily involved in the fundraising effort along with others, held a special presentation at Memorial Hall Sept. 6 to hand over the keys of the new vehicle to Charlene Curtis, the mother of five-year-old Arianna Price, who, after a brain injury at the age of 14 months is completely dependent on her caregivers for all her needs.
“It’s freedom. And an ease of worry. I don’t have to worry about finding a ride anymore. I don’t have to worry about paying someone for gas,” said Curtis, who without a vehicle of her own, would often borrow her mother’s van to get to the city to see specialists.
“It’s going to mean I won’t have to prioritize medical appointments anymore. When I had to look for a ride, I couldn’t find a ride three times a month, so I was prioritizing which medical appointment was more important than another one ... I can just book medical appointments now.”
As Arianna grew, it became more and more difficult and dangerous to move her into and out of the van, so the gift is a reprieve for both the little girl and her mother.
Instead of picking Arianna up out of her chair, putting her into a carseat in the van, strapping her in, then picking up her wheelchair and placing it into a safe place in the van, Arianna’s mother can now simply roll her up the ramp, strap down the chair and be on her way.
“I don’t have to pick up that ridiculously heavy wheelchair anymore. It’s going to be great,” said Curtis.
It’s also going to mean inclusion for Arianna in everyday events like grocery shopping, for instance, said Curtis, as well as special events that occur in the family’s life. Arianna is also starting kindergarten at Busby School this fall and having a vehicle on hand will make it easier should she or her older sister miss the bus.
The Elks got involved when the organization was contacted by Arianna’s physical therapist, said Elks treasurer Dolores English, who received a standing ovation for her work on the fundraising effort.
“This is a good cause, for a family who really needed it,” she said.
“I’m a mother and a grandmother as well and this could happen to any family ... We just wanted to make the quality of life better for Arianna and her family and I think it was just a no-brainer.”
There was a GoFundMe page set up for individuals to donate, but when the Elks came on board, they were able to start issuing charitable receipts. The family also credits Global TV for spreading the family’s plight across the province. Donations for the vehicle began to pour in soon after Arianna’s story appeared on TV.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. It always is a wonderful feeling when you can help somebody. It was really nice just to see the happy family,” said English.
Besides the obvious modifications, the van also comes along with two years of insurance, winter tires and a warranty.
“Everything worked out. We got everything we needed for her for the next number of years, so Charlene is not going to have to worry about a lot of things. Maybe just the gas, other than that she’ll be good,” said English.
Aside from the work of the Elks and the GoFundMe page, other donations came from President’s Choice Children’s Charity, the Children’s Ability Fund, the Good Neighbour Fund, the Dawn Land Foundation and the Alberta Trappers’ Association.
