Unexpected car trouble is one of the most frustrating things a person can experience on a busy day.

Most of us rely heavily on our vehicles to get us to work, school, the grocery store or important appointments. When that mode of transportation is no longer reliable, we must either pay for repairs or find another way of getting from point A to point B.

Either option is easier said than done for families whose budgets are stretched thin. Even more so if that vehicle is specially made for the mobility of a child.

Becky Johnson and her son, Devyn Pritchard, already know all about the struggles of reliable transportation.

Devyn, of Coal Grove, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and is wheelchair bound. His mother drives a van with a chair lift, but Devyn has no room to move his head in the van. Devyn also requires frequent doctor visits and the ageing van is often in need of costly repairs.

Thankfully, hope is on the horizon for a new van — the family just needs the entire community’s support.

Devyn was nominated as a “Local Hero” in the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association’s contest to win a new custom wheelchair accessible van.

To win, Devyn needs our votes.

To vote for Devyn, go to www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com and search for his name. The rest of the instructions will follow after signing into the site.

The vote only takes a few moments of your time, but it could have a huge impact on one local child.

We all know how frustrating car problems can be, so why not do one small act to help relieve Devyn and his mother from that burden.

With everyone working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of a family who really needs it.