As if restoring a classic car isn't hard enough, this teenager is doing so while dealing with a brain tumor.
Like any teenage gearhead, Coleman Medcoff, 16, of Parma, Idaho (just outside of Boise), has dreams of restoring a classic car, but a brain tumor diagnosis and accompanying chemotherapy treatments are making the restoration an even bigger challenge than it normally would be. Fortunately, the community has stepped up to help Medcoff get his 1964 Mercury Monterey – nicknamed Maria – on the road.
In an interview on Idaho News (below), Medcoff says that he had been "annoying" his parents about getting a classic car, and they obviously gave in when he found the Mercury up for sale on the side of the road. It isn't hard to see why he fell in love with "Maria" either as the '64 Monterey is a unique and stylish classic car with plenty of attitude.
Speaking of attitude, it's hard to imagine a kid with a better attitude than Medcoff, who said "no matter what your problem, what your issue is, you can get through it." Due to the benign glioma brain tumor, Medcoff is dealing with tremors in his left hand as well as some loss of control on his left side, but he isn't letting that stop him getting his classic on the road. And that's where the workers from Harold's Auto Body come into play. The owner of the shop and his employees have been donating their time and free use of equipment to get the car rebuilt, while others in the community have pitched in thousands of dollars toward the restoration.
While it isn't clear what sort of work his Mercury needs, this car is definitely in good hands. After the restoration is complete, Medcoff says that he's looking forward to driving the Mercury and showing it off.
His friends and family have set up a fundraiser on Facebook to raise money for the build, and you can find that HERE.
Source: Idaho News
