Raising donations

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Dan Whitman of Naugatuck, left, gives Thomas James ‘TJ’ MacLean and his mother Kate James of Oakville $2,500 he raised to help pay for a wheelchair-accessible van Oct. 10. CONTRIBUTED

Dan Whitman of Naugatuck raised $2,500 for 5-year-old Thomas James “TJ” MacLean and his mother Kate James of Oakville.

TJ has spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that impacts the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.

Whitman collected $2,406 at businesses throughout the greater Waterbury area and donated $94 himself to bring the donation to an even $2,500. The money will be put towards buying a wheelchair-accessible van for TJ.

A fund is set up at Thomaston Savings Bank, 565 Main St. Watertown to buy the van. Anyone who wants to donate can do so by making checks payable to Thomas James MacLean Fund, and mailing them to the bank.