Bonnie Cyphers closed her eyes and strummed an acoustic guitar as she sang "Leaving on a Jet Plane." She smiled when she looked up at the crowd of friends and family who watched her rendition of the Peter, Paul & Mary classic.
The selection was apt, because though the Parkville woman contracted polio at an early age, she never let the disease keep her from getting around and enjoying life. And yesterday's gathering was intended to make sure that it stays that way.
About 80 people assembled yesterday at Della Rose's restaurant for the presentation of a handicap-accessible van that will enable Cyphers, 58, to transport the motorized scooter that she uses to get around.
The black Dodge minivan, which sat outside the Canton restaurant wrapped in a red bow, was purchased with $20,000 in donations from local organizations, companies and private donors. The lunchtime celebration also served as a fundraiser, bringing in enough money to reserve $3,000 for the van's maintenance.
The van includes a ramp and hand controls, as well as space for Cyphers' scooter.
"This has been a miracle for me," Cyphers said. "This helped me make a dream come true."
Cyphers, who maintains the physicians directory for St. Joseph Medical Center, contracted polio at age 2. Although she had used leg braces most of her life to walk on her own, a few years ago the joints and muscles in her legs had deteriorated to the point where she must now use a scooter to get around.
Cyphers said she had searched for an affordable handicap-accessible van for about a year before nearly giving up. She then approached a co-worker, Sean Flanagan, and told him about her plight. He immediately began finding sponsors.
"He started this fundraiser, and then I realized that people were aware," Cyphers said. "Sean made it happen."
Flanagan said he has been raising money for the van since November. He noted that Cypher's courage and determination made the fundraiser possible. Cyphers was named Baltimore County's 2003 Disabled Person of the Year.
"There's two things that really define Bonnie: her pride and her strength," said Flanagan, who works as director of government relations for St. Joseph Medical Center. "I can't say enough about Bonnie."
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the co-sponsor of yesterday's event, donated $5,800, completing the fundraising.
"It's just a great idea to help out with," said Christopher S. Swedberg, financial associate for the Baltimore-based nonprofit organization, who presented that donation yesterday.
"The whole idea behind our company is to help out the community," he said.
Among the attendees at yesterday's event were some of Cyphers' lifelong friends, including Katherine A. Klausmeier, a state senator from Baltimore County. She said she has known Cyphers for 44 years, since the two attended Catholic High School together.
Klausmeier recalled Cyphers' persistence. Their high school had no elevators, and Cyphers would walk up and down the stairs with her leg braces on, no matter how painful or difficult.
"I'm just really proud of her, always have been," she said. "She never let anything get in her way. She's just a dynamic person."
Cyphers always has loved music, and her son, Timothy got in on the act, too. He sang and played the guitar throughout the luncheon and held the microphone for his mother as she performed.
"They have been amazing," Cyphers said of her three sons, Timothy, 24, Patrick, 22, and Keith, 26. "We've been supporting each other. They've almost become my caregivers."
tyeesha.dixon@baltsun.com