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M.C. Mobility Systems is proud to announce that Kody Harlow — a 14-year-old from Lebanon, Ohio — is the winner of Braun Ability's Ultimate Fan Van Giveaway! He and his family will be presented with a brand new Toyota Sienna Rampvan with matching Permobil wheelchair and Coleman tailgating set at the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 Race in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“The FanVan will make a difference in my life because it will make me smile every day.”   Kody's words and outlook certainly show just how deserving he and his family are. Kody, as well as three brothers and his mother, have Mitochondrial Disease, which affects the cells responsible for converting energy for the body. The affects of the disease vary greatly.  Some members of the family deal with digestive problems and mild fatigue, while Kody’s condition is more severe and has led to multisystem diseases. Because the disease has progressed more quickly in Kody, he requires the use of a wheelchair to conserve energy.

Despite the challenges of frequent hospital visits and having to be home schooled, Kody still manages to be a kid. He and his brothers visit Victory Junction Gang Nascar Camp each year, where Kody loves to hassle driver Kyle Petty. The camp offers adventure and community for kids living with chronic illnesses. Next time he heads to camp, Kody says he'd love to pull up in his new, “pimped out” ride with matching Permobil wheelchair. “It would make Kyle Petty jealous,” he wrote, “and then we could dunk him again in the dunk tank.”

On October 16th, Kody and his family will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the official presentation of his new wheelchair van at the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 Race. There, he will meet Braun Ability Founder and CEO Ralph Braun and the driver of the #38 Braun Racing car, Jason Leffler. The whole crowd will cheer on Kody as Jason takes him on a victory lap around the track in the Fan Van before the race! Following the official presentation, the Fan Van will travel to M.C. Mobility Systems at our Cincinnati store, where Kody and his family will take final delivery the following week.  M.C. Mobility Systems is so proud to have been a part of this great project and to have the opportunity to meet such an inspiring kid!

Thank you to all of the sponsors that worked to bring the Harlow family renewed independence with a wheelchair accessible van from Braun Ability — Toyota, Permobil, Great Clips and Coleman. Check out AbilityVoice for more info on the Harlow family and the van presentation!