A local photographer’s career is on hold as he deals with the theft of a van holding his equipment, including his specialized wheelchair.

Steve Gerecke and his daughter Kayla said they got back from a trip to Kingston late Thursday when they discovered his van was missing.

"I'm still in denial about the reality of this all," Steve said.

“It breaks my heart,” said an emotional Kayla Gerecke.

Steve is living with arthrogryposis, a non-progressive disease that weakens muscles and affects joints.

He said his customized chair allowed him to keep working as a photographer.

"I modify certain things so when I'm at a job, I'll put remote strobes up and I'll mount things to the back,” he said. “They are designed to make you feel better about your disability; it's like ‘Look at me, I’ve got a cool chair.’"

Photojournalist Jake Wright said he offered Gerecke a freelance job when he heard about the theft.

“This is the lowest of the low, I hope the police catch them,” he said. "This has robbed him of his independence. It's not just a vehicle theft, it's stealing a man's living. It's stealing a man’s function in society."

Steve said the chair wasn’t paid off and insurance won’t cover most of the $30,000 in equipment he lost.

Sunday, prominent local businessman Patrick Dion said he's going to make a bank account in Steve's name and give the first donation after the long weekend.

"The Ottawa community is coming together to see whether or not we can help re-purchase some of the equipment needed for Steve to do his job, plus his chair," Dion said.

"I'm not suggesting we can all gather together to help Steve get his van back but maybe that's a possibility as well."

Steve Gerecke and police are asking anyone who sees a red 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan with the license plate BLJ A099 to call police.

It was last seen on Pigeon Terrace and McCarthy Road in south Ottawa.

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Stefanie Masotti