'Brianna's Wheels' About Halfway to Goal

Brianna Silveira, 14, of Bristol has Cerebral Palsy. She uses a power wheelchair to get around at school, but a manual wheelchair at home. She can use the power wheelchair only because a bus picks her up every day. 

As a high school freshman, she wants to do what all other kids her age are doing, according to Linda Silveira Vollaro, who set up the "Brianna’s Wheels" fund on GoFundMe on Nov. 19. 

The fund will help get Brianna a handicap-accessible van so she can do all activities most teenage girls do without any limitations and without leaving her completely dependent on her family. A power wheelchair makes her almost independent, said Vollaro. She can keep up with her friends and she can enjoy herself without having mom or another adult by her side.

The campaign has a goal of $10,000. Among the 81 donors who have contributed $4,496 so far, according to GoFundMe, are the Caizzi, Klein and Viscolosi families of Bristol. 

Jane Viscolosi said on GoFundMe: “On behalf of our family we would like to make this donation for Brianna to get new wheels! As a family we have chosen Brianna as our Christmas present this year. With Love, Robert & Sarah Caizzi, The Klein family (Doug, Sarah, Hannah & Sarah Jane), Bob Caizzi, Jane Caizzi Viscolosi and husband Larry Viscolosi, Steve Caizzi, Heather Reid and Stella Clark. Happy New Year and we hope wheels come shiny and bright very soon!”