Our newest EQUIP HEROES Project kicks off at FUNDRZR!
EQUIP HEROES brings together Jeep enthusiasts, businesses and everyday folks who care, to join us in building Hero Jeeps and trucks that help make a difference out there.
Our Hero Jeeps always have a great story to tell. This is the story of Cody's Jeep, originally purchased by his Dad to give him hope and something to look forward to. You see, Cody was in CHOC, Children's Hospital of Orange County, with cancer. At only 6 years old he had a rough road ahead. The Jeep was bought for $400 and needed some help. Dad's plan was to fix it up with Cody and then use four-wheeling in the desert as goal for when he kicked cancer. Dad knew we were into Jeeps and asked if we could help...we jumped at the chance.
We recruited companies and friends to donate parts and turn wrenches. We worked with Cody so he could pick out his favorite parts and were even able to arrange him helping on the build during remission. Cody's Hero Jeep was presented to him at a press conference at SEMA in 2007. The plan was for him to get better and then use the Hero Jeep to deliver free wheelchairs in Oaxaca Mexico with Growers First, his Dad's nonprofit. Unfortunately the cancer came back and Cody lost his life in 2011 at only 15 years of age.
Cody's Jeep didn't make it to Mexico. It was however used for all kinds of special activities supporting young people. It's now tired and beat up and in desperate need of a refresh. We decided it's time this Jeep got to do what it was intended to do.
Our newest EQUIP HEROES Project kicks off with this campaign to rebuild Cody's Hero Jeep and send it to Oaxaca to deliver free wheelchairs in 2025. Join us in honoring Cody's spirit for serving others and giving this Hero Jeep a new story to tell! The funds raised will go to building the Jeep and our campaign to get it to Mexico to go to serve in the hands of Growers First. We have done this before with great success. The original build was sponsored by 4Wheel Parts, ARB, Warn, Wet Okole and BF Goodrich and was featured on display at SEMA and around the world in several off-road magazines.
Supporters will all be invited as our guests to the unveiling next year in Southern California where we will be displaying Cody's Jeep before it heads to it's new life of service in Mexico. Growers First will be offering spots for EQUIP HEROES Project supporters to join us on a family-friendly adventure to Oaxaca to ride in Cody's Hero Jeep and help us deliver free wheelchairs to poor coffee farming communities in the mountains... it's a trip of a lifetime!
