A GoFundMe to purchase an accessible van for a Sidney man has raised over $30,000.
Dez Young, 22, started to lose function in his legs over six years ago and has used a wheelchair ever since. His family has allocated $30,000 for an accessible van, which costs $58,000.
Any additional funds raised from the GoFundMe, which can be found at bit.ly/493kiAg, will be used for the vehicle transfer tax, vehicle maintenance and gas.
Young is suffering from severe late effects from his childhood cancer treatment. The side effects have changed his nervous system, digestive system and adrenal functioning.
Young has lived at Victoria General Hospital for over three years as he depends on IV fluids and nutrition. He has recently been able to visit his family home four days a week but continues to work on his University of Victoria (UVic) kinesiology degree from the hospital.
“If Dez had use of an accessible van, he would have greater access to community activities and his stamina for outings would increase greatly,” wrote Dez’s mom, Arabella Young, on the GoFundMe page. “With an accessible van, Dez’s family and caregivers will be able to take Dez for outings into nature, bring Dez home and take Dez to in-person classes at UVic.”
Dez’s family’s current van doesn’t have a lift or ramp for his wheelchair.
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