Thanks to a group of caring individuals in Fond du lac, a UW Oshkosh music major, FDL High School graduate, and former marching band member’s life will be made much easier. Kevin Kollman was born with cerebal palsy and is wheelchair bound but thanks to some generous donations, Kevin is getting a van with the right equipment that is going to change his life. Family friend Tammy Franklin says up until now Kevin has relied on his mom, family and friends to help him get to where he needs to go. “Right now when Kevin goes somewhere somebody has to be there to take these heavy metal ramps and place them in the right position so he can drive his wheelchair up into the van,” Franklin told WFDL news. A few years ago Franklin helped form a fundraising board dubbed “Operation Independence.” The group was able to raise more than $34,000 to purchase a 2010 Dodge Caravan equipped with what’s called a Braun Ability Conversion. Kevin was presented with the van during a special ceremony this week at Wendt’s on the Lake. Franklin says today Kevin is able to get into the vehicle on his own with the push of a button on a remote control. “The entire vehicle lowers to the ground, the side door slides open and the ramp comes out. Kevin then wheels in, transfers himself to a six-way power seat, pushes the button again, the ramp comes back up, the door comes back up, he locks his wheelchair into place and Kevin can now go anywhere he wants to go.” Franklin says Kevin is a remarkable young man. “I’ve never met somebody with a more positive attitude and he’s just accomplished so much. Kevin skis, he rides horseback, he was awarded a science award at UW Madison, he was in the marching band, he’s an instrumental music major at UW-Oshkosh. All of those things for anybody would be remarkable, but the fact that Kevin is in a wheelchair makes him exceptional in my opinion.”
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