PASADENA, Maryland — Six-year-old Ari Jarrett has no problem getting down on the floor with his new puppy, Rocket. He buries his face in Rocket’s face and snuggles with the dog who will one day be his service dog.

Ari is confined to a wheelchair. His mother, Brianna Jarrett, said he was born with skeletal abnormalities that affected the development of his spinal cord.

“It’s very similar to spina bifida, but not exactly spina bifida. His range of motion from the waist down is limited,” she said.

The family is working with a group to train Rocket in everything Ari needs, from picking things up from the floor to helping with his balance. Brianna said the cost is about $15,000 and is not covered by insurance.

“(Rocket) is still a baby, so we expect him to be with Ari for a very, very long time. And he will accompany Ari to doctor’s appointments and our frequent hospital stays.”

It’s just one of two things his family hopes to raise money for at a fundraiser on Aug. 10. The other is a special sports wheelchair. Brianna said the one he now uses to play tennis and basketball is too big.

“He is smaller than the average seven-year-old, so it is important that the chair fits him properly.”

The wheelchair costs about $5,000 and is also not covered by insurance. Brianna said both the wheelchair and Rocket will greatly improve her son’s quality of life.

“He lights up when he plays sports. This is the only community he’s part of that has children who are wheelchair bound,” she said. “Other children who don’t have special needs can easily join a sports team and I want him to have that opportunity too.”

The Jarretts are using HelpHopeLive to host a charity trivia night at Faith Baptist Church in Glen Burnie. There will be a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $20 per person.

“If nothing else, I hope people get the opportunity to see that children with special needs are such an important part of our community and an important part of what makes us who we are, and that we should celebrate them and support them as much as we can,” Brianna said.

Click here for quiz night details and to purchase tickets. There is also an online auction which closes on August 10th.