Kevin's new van fund
Donation protected
Hello everyone, my name is Kevin Cangiano and I'm 24 years old from East Providence Rhode Island. I am a bowler, Patriots fan, NASCAR fan (Rusty Wallace and my driver now Brad Keselowski), Bruins fan...and oh yeah I have muscular dystrophy. I don' let my disease define me though. Muscular Dystrophy is a disease that affects the muscles in your body, slowly weakening them and causes the loss of mobility and control. I have lost my ability to use most of my body but I can control my wheelchair just by using my mouth!
I found myself in the 2nd grade when I lost my ability to walk. It's very difficult to put into words how it felt to lose control of my body, but I had my oldest brother Louis (4 years older) to look up to, who was also suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. Seeing my brother go through the challenges and struggles of this disease gave me a better perspective of what was happening to me, he was there to guide me and inspire me. I got tube feeding when I was in the 11th grade and I also got a trachea to help.
In a big Italian family (our parents and 6 of us kids!), Louis and I had a very deep brotherly bond, a bond that really no one else in the world could truly understand. The companionship of my older brother was so strong, he knew exactly what I was feeling and going through, no doctors, family, or friends could ever know that. Louis and I did everything together, we tackled the same daily challeneges, developed similar interests and hobbies, shared so many wonderful memories (watching the races and the Patriots and Bruins winning championships!). Louis passed over 2 years ago and it was a big loss for me, he was such a powerful figure in my life and made me so strong.
We stayed very active. With the whole family packed into the van, (2 wheelchairs and 4 other kids), we took family vacations and trips. Some notable ones down south, our NASCAR vacation where we got to see races, visit the Penske shop and even drive the van on a real race track on the Charlotte Speed Way. The van, which we got in 2000, is still the van I use today..and well...I think her time has passed. As a NASCAR fan I know the importance of having a good reliable vehicle and here is where my problem lays. The van sadly won't pass inspection (chassis is rotted) and needs a lot of costly work (looking at thousands of dollars!). It really isn't safe for me to be still using it as my only form of transportation and getting a new van can be very expensive due to the equipment in the van like the lift. The estimates for a new van run around $40,000 with a lift, money I don't have.In a big family money can be tight and so here is where I am reaching out to friends and family and the world for some help. I'd like to buy a new van and really any amount of money you can contribute would be greatly appreciated. My van is my connection to the world, without it I can't leave the house. I need reliable transortation for important things like doctors appointments and also so I can continue with my own hobbies and interests.
This van gets me to bowling every Sunday night. I am an avid bowler, my dad even custom made a ramp to attach to my wheelchair that I use to aim and bowl with. I have been bowling for 2 years now and am in a league, last year we even came in 2nd! So far...highest bowled game...233!!!!! The van makes everything possible.
I also want a new van because I have bigger dreams and having the van allows me to make those dreams possible. I want to go to New Hampshire and see more races, I want to go to a Pats game, a Bruins game, I want to see the Smithsonian Museums, go to some Air Shows, visit Cape Cod, attend some concerts (Rascal Flatts), maybe go to the Daytona 500!!
Just for safety reasons I need a van that is reliable and our old van now is just too risky to make these trips. So I'm stuck and could use some help. This is a big step for me, it's not easy sharing your story and opening up about your life and daily struggles and it's not easy asking for help. Any money I raise will go towards a new van and be used on helping me achive some life dreams like seeing a Pats game or getting into a new hobby (I have been really interested in 3D Printers and CNC Router Machines, I'd like to design toys and puzzles).
Some equate strength with physical power, but when a disease steals your physical abilities, your true strength shines, and that is strength of character. That is what I have, that is what my brother Louis had. How you deal with the struggles of everyday life, the adversity, that is what defines you.
I am sharing my story because I need some financial help in order to make my dreams happen. This is my life, these are the challenges I face every day. I am going to wake up tomorrow, like every day, and persevere and not let my disease limit me even more. This is where all of you can help me.
Thanks,
Kevin Cangiano
I found myself in the 2nd grade when I lost my ability to walk. It's very difficult to put into words how it felt to lose control of my body, but I had my oldest brother Louis (4 years older) to look up to, who was also suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. Seeing my brother go through the challenges and struggles of this disease gave me a better perspective of what was happening to me, he was there to guide me and inspire me. I got tube feeding when I was in the 11th grade and I also got a trachea to help.
In a big Italian family (our parents and 6 of us kids!), Louis and I had a very deep brotherly bond, a bond that really no one else in the world could truly understand. The companionship of my older brother was so strong, he knew exactly what I was feeling and going through, no doctors, family, or friends could ever know that. Louis and I did everything together, we tackled the same daily challeneges, developed similar interests and hobbies, shared so many wonderful memories (watching the races and the Patriots and Bruins winning championships!). Louis passed over 2 years ago and it was a big loss for me, he was such a powerful figure in my life and made me so strong.
We stayed very active. With the whole family packed into the van, (2 wheelchairs and 4 other kids), we took family vacations and trips. Some notable ones down south, our NASCAR vacation where we got to see races, visit the Penske shop and even drive the van on a real race track on the Charlotte Speed Way. The van, which we got in 2000, is still the van I use today..and well...I think her time has passed. As a NASCAR fan I know the importance of having a good reliable vehicle and here is where my problem lays. The van sadly won't pass inspection (chassis is rotted) and needs a lot of costly work (looking at thousands of dollars!). It really isn't safe for me to be still using it as my only form of transportation and getting a new van can be very expensive due to the equipment in the van like the lift. The estimates for a new van run around $40,000 with a lift, money I don't have.In a big family money can be tight and so here is where I am reaching out to friends and family and the world for some help. I'd like to buy a new van and really any amount of money you can contribute would be greatly appreciated. My van is my connection to the world, without it I can't leave the house. I need reliable transortation for important things like doctors appointments and also so I can continue with my own hobbies and interests.
This van gets me to bowling every Sunday night. I am an avid bowler, my dad even custom made a ramp to attach to my wheelchair that I use to aim and bowl with. I have been bowling for 2 years now and am in a league, last year we even came in 2nd! So far...highest bowled game...233!!!!! The van makes everything possible.
I also want a new van because I have bigger dreams and having the van allows me to make those dreams possible. I want to go to New Hampshire and see more races, I want to go to a Pats game, a Bruins game, I want to see the Smithsonian Museums, go to some Air Shows, visit Cape Cod, attend some concerts (Rascal Flatts), maybe go to the Daytona 500!!
Just for safety reasons I need a van that is reliable and our old van now is just too risky to make these trips. So I'm stuck and could use some help. This is a big step for me, it's not easy sharing your story and opening up about your life and daily struggles and it's not easy asking for help. Any money I raise will go towards a new van and be used on helping me achive some life dreams like seeing a Pats game or getting into a new hobby (I have been really interested in 3D Printers and CNC Router Machines, I'd like to design toys and puzzles).
Some equate strength with physical power, but when a disease steals your physical abilities, your true strength shines, and that is strength of character. That is what I have, that is what my brother Louis had. How you deal with the struggles of everyday life, the adversity, that is what defines you.
I am sharing my story because I need some financial help in order to make my dreams happen. This is my life, these are the challenges I face every day. I am going to wake up tomorrow, like every day, and persevere and not let my disease limit me even more. This is where all of you can help me.
Thanks,
Kevin Cangiano
Organizer and beneficiary
Kevin Cangiano
Organizer
East Providence, RI
Anna Marie Cangiano
Beneficiary