All-Access: Alex's Dream Car
Like any 22 year-old, Alex Bode is excited about owning her first brand-new car, and sweeter still, she earned it all by herself.
On July 26, representatives of Vehicle Production Group, LLC, (VPG) manufacturer of the only factory-built wheelchair-accessible car, dropped off Bode’s new ride, which she won in a national contest after submitting her You Tube video entry, “Alex’s Clunker.”
The contest’s grand prize, a brand new, $39,000 MV-1 automobile, was literally the car of Bode’s dreams, she said.
“We were trying to buy this car,” said Bode, who has been following news of the MV-1 since began production began in 2011.
Both Bode and her sister, Samantha “Sam” Bode, 26, were diagnosed with Freidreich’s ataxia 15 years ago. The degenerative neuro-muscular disorder slowly saps critical physical abilities and, as a result, both young women rely on mechanized wheelchairs to continue with their incredibly independent lives. They share their North Branford home with mom Mary Caruso, a tireless advocate, supporter, and fan.
Caruso noted her daughter chose to enter the contest because of the option it offered for her to try for a car in a “dignified and respectful way, and without asking friend after friend to vote for her.”
Caruso said the family’s well-worn converted mini-van was on its last legs (in the video, the manual ramp is a bear to handle and the engine fails to start) with parts literally falling off as the video was made. Both Bode sisters and Caruso appear in the video. Caruso said she was impressed by the other video entries she saw on You Tube and noted that there are so many families who also could benefit from a vehicle like the MV-1.
Mike Carney, chief marketing officer of VPG, said 685 total entries were received, including 40 videos of all levels of production. He said Alex Bode’s unedited, straightforward, and often humorous video captivated the contests’ six judges, who voted unanimously to select her as the winner.
Carney and Steven Schneir, general manager of MV-1 of Greater New York City, personally delivered the new vehicle to the Caruso-Bode home just before noon on July 26.
A statement was also shared by John Walsh, CEO of VPG, who said, “We’re grateful to be able to present a new, American-made MV-1 to the Bode family. As she demonstrated in her video entry, Ally is a wonderful young lady who approaches everything with a great sense of humor and with personality to spare. She and her mother Mary also demonstrated exactly why we built this car: because taking a standard automobile, chopping it up, and installing critical equipment like deployable ramps should not be done piecemeal.”
Walsh went on to note the right to a “safe, quality automobile with a full factory warranty should not be limited to those individuals who do not use a wheelchair or similar device, but should be a basic right available to everyone.”
“This type of stuff doesn’t happen to me, and I am so excited and grateful to VPG for this prize,” said Bode. “Not only is this a wonderful experience for me, this car is the future for people with disabilities. Until the MV-1, there have been very few options and those options are much more expensive.”
Sam Bode was at work at North Branford’s Sportsplex when the car arrived. Alex Bode is also working this summer, and will also complete a working internship while completing the last year of bachelor’s degree. Many friends as well as a number of members of the press were on hand to see the bright blue vehicle roll up outside the Bode-Caruso home.
Bode made a bee-line from her front door to enter the MV-1 via a ramp, which extends at the touch of a button. She checked out her front passenger spot and easily maneuvered inside, turning around to view the rest of the high-ceilinged, spacious cabin.
“I love it! This is a pretty good deal,” she said, smiling.
She added one of the first things she’d really love to do with her new car is to take a trip across the country.
Following Bode into the MV-1 was her dog Rochelle, who curled right up on the rear leather bench seat, and Caruso, who will drive the vehicle. Carney then officially handed Bode the keys to her new car.
“It is such a pleasure for me to watch Ally revel in this experience,” said her mom. “It has also been a joy to work with the people from VPG. They are kind and dignified and obviously in this industry for the right reasons. I am honored to accept this vehicle knowing it will be a positive force for so many people with disabilities across the country to finally have an option like the MV-1.”
To learn more about the VPG and the American-built MV-1 visit www.vpgautos.com.