Sixth-grader receives much-needed wheelchair

<p>A Long Island sixth-grader received a much-needed wheelchair in Freeport Wednesday.</p>

News 12 Staff

Dec 20, 2017, 7:46 PM

Updated 2,550 days ago

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A Long Island sixth-grader received a much-needed wheelchair from Santa and some detectives in Freeport Wednesday.
Santa arrived with sirens and lights at the Caroline Atkinson School, bringing toys for kids and a wheelchair for 11-year-old Wesley Capellan-Peralta.
John Wighaus, of the Nassau County Detectives' Association, says the association, along with its charitable foundation, gave the gift to Wesley because he had a broken wheelchair and his family couldn't afford a new one.
Wesley tells News 12 that he was so excited to get rid of his old wheelchair because it was broken and the seat belts didn't work - and with this new chair, he could pop a wheelie.
"I believe in Santa now because he gave me everything that I wanted," he says.
Nassau County detectives discovered Wesley needed a wheelchair earlier this year. The $3,000 wheelchair was donated by a Port Washington company.