Streamwood family seeks help buying wheelchair-accessible van for daughter
Teachers and students at Heritage Elementary School in Streamwood will be organizing a fundraiser for Riley Woznicki, a first-grader with spastic cerebral palsy, so her family can buy a wheelchair-accessible van.
The Woznickis already have raised nearly $18,000 through three fundraisers since June. A new van with wheelchair accessibility could cost up to $50,000.
“We're trying to help out the family as best we can,” said Riley's first-grade teacher, Karen Whitenack.
Riley, 6, is the only one at her school in a wheelchair.
“She's a very intelligent, smart little girl,” Whitenack said. “She wants to be included in everything, goes to recess with everyone. Everyone just loves her. She just has a great smile on her face.”
Details of the fundraiser have not been ironed out, but it likely will be held this winter or early spring, she said.
The family has tried for two years to win a wheelchair-accessible van through the National Mobility contest. This year, Riley lost out in the semifinal round, said Riley's mother, Jennifer.
Woznicki said the family's current van is nearing 100,000 miles and is not wheelchair-accessible. At 45 pounds, Riley is still small enough for Woznicki to physically lift her into her car seat, while her wheelchair rides in the back.
“We have to face it: Riley is growing. She's only going to get heavier and her chair is going to get heavier,” Woznicki said. “All of our efforts have been focused on this van. We just want to make sure we have a plan in place.”
The family, though, has been overwhelmed with the community outpouring, she said.
“I can't believe how many generous people there are out there that have just come together to support Riley and share her story and do this for us,” Woznicki said. “The first (fundraiser) was started by Jordan, who is Riley's aide at school. She started a community garage sale and all the proceeds went to Riley.”
The event raised about $3,500. A concert in September raised another $2,500, and $3,400 was collected at a pig roast last weekend, she said.
Donations also are being accepted through the online fundraising website gofundme.com/GoRiley.
Woznicki said she will be organizing other fundraisers next year after the holidays.