Returning to Freedom with Cars for Troops

February 19, 2015
Story By
John McCabe

Heroes. They defend our freedom at the risk of life and limb, in places with names that most of us can’t even pronounce. Many come back to the world that they knew, but some come back to a world that has changed - one in which they aren’t the same person as when they left, it may be they are missing a limb or paralyzed. Besides spending a lot of time in rehab and therapy, these wounded soldiers have to adjust to a new way of life. Simply hopping into the car to get somewhere, taken for granted by most of us, is no longer possible without special tools and technology. In order to help these soldiers adapt to their new ways of life, MobilityWorks Foundation and CarsForTroops.com began.

Although the lives of some will never return to "normal," many others lives can be improved with technology. Even though there is nothing that will bring back their limbs, there are some freedoms that can be returned to these heroes.

One example is Vince Robel, before the war he loved to ride Harleys. Losing the use of his legs overseas didn’t change that, but it did change his ability to engage in his passion on wheels. Thanks to the Cars for Troops program, he can now ride on a badass BMW trike right from his wheelchair.

Cars for Troops is run by the MobilityWorks Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The major sponsors of the Foundation are MobilityWorks, Braun Ability and Vantage Mobility International. As you can surely tell by the name, it is not just trikes that disabled veterans can receive through "Cars" for Troops.

Billy Marvin is a former Marine whose spine was damaged by a roadside bomb and subsequently lost use of his legs. Billy became the first recipient of a wheelchair accessible truck with special hand controls through the Foundation. He says that it gives him the freedom that he wouldn’t have had; now he can go anywhere he desires, and he is very appreciative of the freedom.

So, how does MobilityWorks Foundation pay for this? Partly through donations of vehicles and money through their website, CarsForTroops.com, and also through the generosity of donors, such as Ford Motor Co and West Coast Customs. In 2013, Ford donated a brand new Raptor to the Foundation. It was subsequently customized by West Coast Customs (including one of the coolest paint jobs ever.) Mecum Auctions auctioned it off in Dallas. The truck sold for $250,000 and the buyer donated the truck back to the Foundation, with the stipulation that they use it for promotional purposes for a year before re-auctioning it in 2015. Check out the video below for more details about the truck and people behind this noble effort.

Returning to Freedom with Cars for Troops

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