Police hold fundraiser to get van for wheelchair-bound girl

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For 12-year-old Jazmin Romero, life has been filled with challenges.

A rare form of muscular dystrophy keeps her confined to her 345-pound wheelchair. A breathing tube has been recently implanted, which is something she need to keep her alive.

Her appointments with doctors are regular, and her mother says those trips are constant struggles.

"My husband take the middle seat out and put some belts," Mirna Romero said. "He adapted the van so that we can put her in the van with the wheelchair."

But that was before this much bigger wheelchair and transportation provided by insurance has not made things easier.

When Tempe Assistant Police Cheif Angel Carbajal heard her story, he knew he had to help.

"Clearly, we needed to do something and that's when I reached out to Will with Mesa Police Department because they live here in Mesa and said, 'What can we do together?,'" he said. "Right away, Will said we're absolutely on board and between Tempe Police Department and Mesa police, the Fraternal Order of Police, we started this fundraising effort."

It's an effort to raise $30,000 to get the Romero family the van they need. They already have it designed, they've even worked with a dealer to lower the cost, but now they just need the money to make it all happen.

"Well, when I signed up for this job... crime fighting is absolutely one of those things, the other alternative is helping people in need in our own community," said Officer Will Biascoechea, of the Mesa Police Department. "Citizens of this community and specifically children, vulnerable children."

This includes kids like Jazmin, whose needs are great, but has a will to live a fulfilling life.

"I say you can't be here, you need to go do things like other kids do," Mirna said.

Jazmin's family just needs some help, to get her there.

GoFundMe for Jazmin Romero
https://www.gofundme.com/jazmines-multi-purpose-van

Yard Sale for Jazmin Romero
Saturday Oct. 14
7 a.m.- noon
813 S. Vineyard
Mesa, AZ 85210