For Richie's Kids
Donation protected
On May 28th, 2020 my friend and co-worker Rich Deonarine's 2008 Ford van was stolen from in front of his residence in the Bronx. This was no ordinary van; three of Rich's four kids are afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy. Two of his boys, Brandon, 15, and Brian, 12, are wheelchair-bound, while his daughter Brianna, 13, is bedridden and has been on a tracheal ventilator for the past three years. Rich, divorced and with full custody of his children, used the van to make weekly one hundred mile round-trip visits to the rehab center in Smithtown, NY where all three live, and would take the boys out for rides whenever he could. Although the total value of this fully wheelchair-accessible van was roughly $20,000, as a maintenance worker at a NYC zoo Rich could not afford the prohibitive cost of theft insurance on the vehicle. Due to the the pandemic, and the fact that Brianna has contracted the virus, Rich can only visit his children by standing at the window of her room. It is my goal to help Rich replace the van so that when the restrictions are lifted he will be able to resume the boys weekly outings. Please give whatever you can to help make this happen. Also, if anyone knows a dealership that may specialize in these type of vehicles please contact me. Thanks!
Organizer and beneficiary
Joe Badalamente
Organizer
Tappan, NY
Richard Deonarine
Beneficiary