You can help Emily and her family win an accessible van

Despite her many health problems, 12-year-old Emily Richer has made her family's lives richer.

“It's been challenge after challenge, but at the same time, she has taught us to celebrate the small things in life and not take anything for granted,” said Emily's mother, Lisa Richer. “Our lives are a lot different than what we expected them to be, but she is so worth it because of the way she can smile at absolutely anything.”

Emily was born with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, a condition that prevents her from breathing when she falls into a deep sleep.

Since she was a baby, Emily has needed a ventilator when she sleeps.

Emily also has around 14 other medical issues, including visual impairment and low muscle tone – which keeps her bound to a wheelchair. Emily also has developmental delays, can't speak and must be fed through a tube.

The Richer household sees a constant rotation of nurses, personal support workers and therapists, her mother said.

Because they live in Massey, Emily is home-schooled, since the local schools can't accommodate her.

But despite the challenges, Emily can hear and she loves music, and often responds well to sounds.

“At one point, my husband's duck calls were her absolute favourite sound,” Richer said. “She would bust out laughing at the sound of the duck calls.”

Like local teen Kimberley Chiasson, Emily and her family have entered a contest for Mobility Awareness Month to win a $70,000 accessible van with a built-in wheelchair ramp.

The family's current van, a 2007 Grand Caravan, is starting to show its age, Richer said.

A new van would make it easier for Emily to make her yearly trips to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, where she usually goes to 11 appointments each time.

Emily also travels from Massey to Sudbury on a regular basis to see her pediatrician.

Her family's current van has a manual ramp, while the new one would be electric.

But to win the van, Emily needs to gather as many votes as possible online.

To vote for her, click here.