Fundraiser held for boy who needs specially equipped van

Posted at: 10/06/2012 10:45 PM | Updated at: 10/06/2012 11:30 PM

A local boy may have a second chance to get the specially equipped van he needs to increase his mobility.

4-year-old Oscar Merulla-Bonn lives in Brighton and suffers from a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy.

He needs a special power chair to get around and his family needs the van to transport his power chair, which weighs more than 200 pounds.

In May, News10NBC told you he was a finalist in a national contest to win the wheelchair-accessible van. He didn't win that competition, but on Saturday night, a fundraiser was held at the Dyer Arts Center at RIT to help Oscar's family with the cost to buy the van.

Sally Bonn, Oscar's mother, says, "He's a very independent character, and so having the independence in his mobility is really important so that he can really... fully interact with the world."

The fundraiser included a silent auction, raffle and live entertainment.

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