By MIKE CAPUTO
An hour after Cornejo tested out a handicapped accessible van, Pete Sobol-s tinted eyeglasses were the only thing that shielded his emotions.
"When he was getting in the car and up in the driver-s position, it almost made me cry," said Pete Sobol, Cornejo-s former employer, friend and now business partner.
Cornejo suffers from Brittle Bone Syndrome, a rare disease that restricts the 19-year-old Nassau Community College student to a wheelchair. The inherited disease, medically coined as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, affects soft connective tissue and causes bone fractures from the mildest of trauma.
Through dozens of casts and a several surgeries to repair bone-related injuries, Cornejo still managed to thrive at Lawrence High School and maintain an after-school job at Sobol-s Distributors near his Inwood home.
But last week, Cornejo was at the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson to take a test run on what he and his supporters hope can launch him to a life of mobility and success.
Currently, Cornejo utilizes the ABLE-ride program to transport him from Inwood to Nassau Community College. Although the government-funded program is affordable and efficient, Cornejo-s roundtrip commute averages four hours. Sometimes his classes end earlier in the day, and he has to wait several hours for the bus to arrive.
"It is a drag to be there -til 4:30 in the afternoon," Cornejo said.
If Cornejo were to drive to school, that same roundtrip commute would be significantly cut down to slightly over an hour. In addition to relieving stress from the long commute, a vehicle would allow Cornejo to design a courseload that puts him on a quicker path to graduate.
The combined cost of a van and the accessibility additions are believed to be around $30,000. That cost was not a feasible option for Cornejo, whose Spanish-speaking single mother Miriam supports Danny and his sister, Andrea, as a housekeeper. Without a car, Miriam gets around by foot and often helps her son get to where he needs to be.
Then, Cornejo-s former Lawrence physical education teacher and mentor Carol Roseto stepped in. Back in March, Roseto established "I-ll Stand by You," to raise money for his cause.
More than $10,000 has been raised through private donors, Roseto said.
To add to his fund, Sobol helped Cornejo launch the "Dan-s Cans for a Van" program. The objective is simple: collect as many redeemable recyclables as possible, and transfer the proceeds to Cornejo-s van fund.
Through word-of-mouth, Sobol said the campaign has raised $500 over a span of three weeks. Beyond aiding Cornejo-s dream to drive his own vehicle, Sobol said he believes the hands-on experience will the young aspiring entrepreneur develop business skills.
Donors make calls or send e-mails, and Sobol picks it up and brings it to Cornejo-s home. With help from his extended family, the recyclables are sorted and separated so Sobol can deliver the materials for redemption.
"Everyone pitches in," Cornejo said.
Cornejo and Sobol plan to designate one day a week for donors to leave their cans and bottles for pickup.
Cornejo-s popularity in the neighborhood should lead him to his goals, Sobol explained.
"It is amazing to see a kid in a wheelchair with such a smile," Sobol said. "He is one of the most beloved kids in the community.
"Once the kid has a van, he has success in his future," Sobol said. "It is just a matter of him being more mobile. It is the key to doing greater things."
To donate redeemable cans and bottles, send an e-mail to Dancans4avan@gmail.com or call Sobol at (516) 371-3882.
Comments about this story? Mcaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
