Man with spina bifida given gift of mobility
Big anonymous donation, union fundraiser made new dream wheels possible
Ryan Leworthy no longer needs to literally drag himself into a van to work each morning, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Following the publication of a December story featuring his daily struggle, the Star received dozens of calls and emails from readers who wished to donate to Leworthy’s cause.
At the time, the 39-year-old teaching assistant was in desperate need of a $10,000 wheelchair lifting device for his van.
In the end, Leworthy received a massive contribution from a donor who wished to remain nameless.
That gift, combined with a fundraising effort by Leworthy’s union and a grant from a Brampton-based trust fund, led to the purchase of a new highly-accessible 2016 Dodge Caravan.
“This means a lot to me,” said Leworthy, who was born with spina bifida. “I wasn’t expecting this level of support . . . I was just trying to get the point across that there is a gap in a system for disabled people.”
The vehicle’s main feature is a mechanical platform that raises and lowers Leworthy to the driver’s seat while a secondary apparatus lifts his wheelchair into the van and secures it in place.
“It has helped a heck of a lot with my joints,” he said. “And I don’t need someone else to help me get into the van either, so independence has come back into my life too.”
Although Leworthy has never met his benefactor — aside from a fiveminute phone call — he is appreciative nonetheless.
The words “gratitude,” “surprise” and “happiness” are often used when he discusses the gift that has impacted his morning commute to work like “day and night.”