Mother Kelly Gibbs (33) said although the family car could transport the five children and two parents on a family outing, it was not big enough for her daughter's foldable wheelchair.
Daughter Amber Daisley was born with cerebral palsy, microcephaly, scoliosis, epilepsy and developmental delay.
''When I was pregnant with Amber I was physically attacked ... and this is why she has got disabilities.''
Mrs Gibbs said Amber's brain had not formed properly in utero because she had been starved of oxygen when her mother was strangled by the attacker.
Amber recognised friends and family and cuddled when asked, Mrs Gibbs said.
''She enjoys interaction with everybody. When we were going to the park, she enjoys going down slides and being on the swings with me - she laughs her head off and thinks that is just great. She loves doing everything.''
But without a mobility van, the wheelchair had to stay home on a family outing and Amber had to stay in the car at the destination.
Not being able to take Amber out was ''heartbreaking'' because she loved events such as the Santa Parade, but it was often too difficult to borrow a second car.
About seven years ago, the family bought a people-mover van with money from the Lottery Grants Board and planned to install a wheelchair hoist.
Unfortunately, the head gasket blew and the out-of-warranty $14,000 van was sold for $300.
Because of the initial grant, the board could only offer $1000 towards another van.
The cheapest van with a wheelchair hoist cost about $20,000.
The family lived in a Housing New Zealand home and her husband, Daniel Gibbs, was working 50-hour weeks at Cottage Bakehouse. The family ''got by'' but did not have a spare $20,000 for a van, Mrs Gibbs said.
She was selling items to raise money when Dunedin woman Marnie Walters heard about her goal and created the website www.ambersjourney.co.nz to sell prints of donated images.
All the donated money and $10 from each photo and poster sold went towards the van.
''The community is pretty amazing,'' Mrs Gibbs said. A fundraising event selling skincare and makeup products will be held at Wakari School Hall today at 6.30pm.
