The Cars 4 Causes Blog.

In July we talked about a Cars 4 Causes® car donation that keeps on giving – a specially equipped van that was donated by Laura, whose husband had ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).  When he passed away, Laura started a string of generous donations when she donated the van to Cars 4 Causes® and stipulated that the van be given to someone with ALS.

This Honda Odyssey van, equipped with a chair lift was donated with the stipulation that it go to a person with ALS.

The van is a 2007 Honda Odyssey outfitted with a chair lift and it was given to Norris, whose wife, Loretta, told us that it made an enormous difference in his last two months of life, making it possible for him to get out of his house and enjoy a drive through the countryside. When he passed away, Loretta donated the van back to Cars 4 Causes®, continuing the stipulation that it go to someone with ALS.

It was given to Sherry, who had ALS and who – on the day she received the van – said she would donate it forward to someone with ALS when she passed away. Sadly, that day came recently, and the van was donated back to Cars 4 Causes® to continue its journey of helping people in need.

The Honda Odyssey has now been delivered to Ronald, who also has ALS. He’s using it to get him to work four days a week, and we hope he’s going to be using it for a long, long time.

When we first talked about the van in July, we mentioned that it’s been dubbed “the car with angel wings”.  We still call it that. And we send our heartfelt thanks to the courageous people who have used it and donated it to others in need. Make a car donation today! Your donation will support thousands of people who need your help.

Laura’s husband had ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease), and as his disease progressed, he was more and more housebound. They bought a 2007 Honda Odyssey and had it outfitted with a chair lift. (The chair lift alone was valued at $20,000, and they felt lucky that they were able to afford it.) Laura and her husband put just 7,000 miles on their Honda before his death. Then Laura donated the car to Cars 4 Causes. She made just one stipulation:

This Honda Odyssey van, equipped with a chair lift was donated with the stipulation that it go to a person with ALS.

She wanted the specially equipped Honda to go to someone with ALS, someone who would benefit from it as her husband had.

The Second Owner

Norris, who also suffered from ALS, lived 20 miles away, and he was the recipient of the donated car. His wife, Loretta, tells us that the car made all the difference in the last two months of Norris’s life. Just a ride around town was a treat and a drive outside to see the countryside – well, that was a dream. In those last two months, the couple drove just 50 miles, but the car gave Norris access to the world again.

When Norris passed away, Loretta donated the Honda Odyssey back to Cars 4 Causes with one stipulation. We were not surprised. She said it must go to someone with ALS, and so it did.

The Third Owner

The specially equipped Honda Odyssey is now serving Sherry, who also has ALS. Her sister, Sheila, says Sherry has a laundry list of places she wants to go, and they plan to drive to them all. Sherry has already made her stipulation. When she is finished with the car, she wants it to go to someone with ALS.

The car has been dubbed “the car with angel wings” and we think it is that. Also, we think of it as the car with courage. Make a car donation today! Your donation will support thousands of people who need your help.