MONTREAL - Philip Paraskevopoulos, a 13-year-old Verdun student with cerebral palsy, had become accustomed to the freedom that a vehicle could bring to a person in his condition.
After years of taking adapted transit and regular public transit, Paraskevopoulos's family finally got a sweet deal on a special ride, a van specially adapted to the condition that has confined him to a wheelchair.
"It was somebody's kindness, a gift, it was fantastic," said Ann Paraskevopoulos, Philip's mother.
The vehicle liberated them from difficult travel challenges, for example his sister could now drive him to La Ronde and the family wouldn't have to navigate the metro stairs anymore, a difficult task with the chair.
"And then having the van, it was like, ‘Oh my God!' We've struggled for these years, it was such a change," said Ann.
But last Saturday, his sister Jennifer Brisbane, 26, was planning to return home after her shift at the Lasalle Walmart, only to find that someone has stolen the vehicle.
"I got a phone call from Jen, she was very upset and she said, 'mum the van's been stolen,'" said his mother Ann Paraskevopoulos, who relies on her daughter to drive, as she does not know how.
The family soon learned that their insurance wouldn't replace the vehicle, which the company deemed too old.
"No more van, it's sad," said Philip.
Patricia Cicarelli and friends of Philip at the Mackay Centre have undertaken a fundraising effort to replace the vehicle.
"We're embarking on a special project, called kindness week, a drive for change, we'll be collecting money," said Cicarelli.
And while Ann is happy with the help, she'd really just like to get the 1999 white Dodge Caravan minivan back.
"I just want the van back to us," she said. "It was a lifesaver for us and we would just like someone, if someone sees a van, it's been parked for a few days to just pay attention."
