The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Mother seeks financial help to buy van for wheelchair-bound son ming on her couch with a tear Sin her eye, Sharon Stephens uttered what may be three of the most difficult words a person can say, "I need help." And while the word 'help' can hold a variety of meanings, the type of assistance Stephens seeks is financial. But, according to the Waterloo mother. she is not the one in dire straits. That claim is held by her 14- year-old son, Cody. The Cameron Heights high school student suffers from mus- cular dystrophy, a condition which has confined him permanently to a wheelchair. Yet until recently-Cody has managed as best as a person in his shoes could. That is until some- thing inevitable happened, he grew. Gone are the days when Sharon could lift her son in and out of the family van, which sat him quite comfortably Now, at a height of fnre feet and a weight of 160 lbs, Cody was forced to switch to a larger wheel- chair which can accommodate his body type. fhér'e is just one problem, the wheelchair is too large to ftt into the 1988 mini-van the Stephens wap) Drinking and driving can destroy more than your holiday. CHRISTMAS RIDE PROGRAM - COMPARISON BY YEAR WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE Lflfl2 1SlflQ L93El Vehicles Stopped dl89 7456 6738 Vehicles Stopped Total Arrests Charged Irrtpairodfovor Involved In Collision 90 Day Suspension BY Mom Baum Chronicle Staff This message brought to you by Mesa community m?thnCstiso1s, family relies on "When I bought the van four years ago, no one told me it would become too small as he grows," Sharon said. "The van we have won't hold his weight for much longer." But Sharon believes purchasing a new lift for her current vehicle would be a band-aid solution. which would only temporarily cover the real problem. So for the last number of months, Stephens has made it her life's priority to seek support from the community. And her séarch has not been completely ignored: _ - "Even with a new lift, he can't fit into this van anymore." she said. "His head sits nearly at the top. If we were ever to hit a bump. his spine could be damaged. "What we need is a new van." But Sharon realizes this is not a small request. The Rotary Club of Waterloo has provided the mother with $4,800, which would help pay for a new lift for her van. For the size of van Cody's needs require, the mother is looking at spending anywhere between $15.000 to $35.000. And that is something she is not able to do right now. - - "It’s all I a, do to keep up with our needs at home," said the single 47 21 52 LIFESTYLE 25 78 Sharon Stephens hopes Waterloo community members will open their hearts and their wallets to help purchase a van that will comfortably fit her son Cody and his wheelchair. m... n... - mother. "I had a full-time job but I had to quit because Cody is sick a lot. "So now I'm working part time just to mate ends meet. "It's really taken its toll on me. I 6738 69 52 22 59 Best Western St. Jacobs Country Inn Sales, Service. Ci')) CROSBY hi VOLKSWAGEN Aum The staff of the Waterloo Cbmnicle wish you and your: a Safe and Happy Holiday Season, and remember Please don't Drink and Drive ANDREA IAIIV mom WATERl0(rtMmNIcLE Website www stjacobscountryinn com 50 Benjamin Rd. E. Waterloo N2V 239 884-9295 Fax 884-2532 2500 King St. East Kitchener, ON (519) 894-9300 www.crostryvwaudi .com realize we're not the only ones who need help, but we really do need some helix" _ Shani: said she has contacted close to 75 local organizations, seeking financial contributions - "So it kind 6f feels like we're fighting a losing battle here," she said. Sharon added, "All I want to is to be able to give my son the quality of life and the independence he's had for almost 15 years. The unfortunate part. she said, is that only a handful of these groups even consider supporting one individual's personal cause. "Some people think I'm asking for something unreasonable. but I have had to spend so much money already. I just cant afford any- more." In an attempt to promote her cause, Sharon has set up the Cody Stephens trust fund at the Royal Bank at the comer of Northfield Drive and Weber Street in Waterloo. I “I hope people will help us so that it's not so hard on my mom." he said. "I've never been a person to ask for anything," she said. "But it's come to the point, with all of the lifting and the pressure on my back, that it's just too much." Cody also hopes the communi- ty comes to his Tothtf? aid. Leasing & Parts Audi M (: Mlchael m of “was! Sam M 101 mama Strut ("damn 0mm Tel 742-8700 Fax 742-9298 email mftrllettWw [gs net " 70 Assam details WAIERLOO Imam 'tortel9t1htPm"e o &l 'tii? tTi,,) Marie E. McCusker Community Banking Manager Golden Triangle Community O86 _......... "_...... itt “mm Ft'TFT 746-1666 T?: Homewood Add- iction Division and St. Mary's Counselling Service will host a workshop for professionals entitled "Seniors and Substances" Ian. 18 2001 at the Community Health and Social Services building in Waterloo. Presented by Dr, Bill Jacyk and the Community Alcohol a',', Drug Services Seniors am, those who take part will discuss seniors and substances: identifying the issues; presenting prob- lems: patterns to look for; how much alcohol is too much?; what about we scribed drugs?; conse- quences of substance mis- use in the elderly; seniors and gambling: a hidden problem; interventions with the elderly in a community setting; and community problem: community solu- tions. To register, call Carol at St. Mary's Counselling Service at 745-2585. The workshop will run from 9 am. to noon Workshop offered for drug addiction counsellors Michael Follett Consulting Inc Michael Fallen, CMC [113131311133 Pb: (519) 144-7175 Fax: (519) 7444890 Email: tttatitt.meettsettt6 “new! minimmir ' 650 Riverhend Dr Kitchener, Ontario Immature "f Quatrtv N2K 3S2