NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Darrell Gwynn Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, with NHRA driver Paul Lee and McLeod Racing and FTI Performance, donated a $25,000 custom wheelchair to a Florida man who was paralyzed six years ago in an accident. The donation was made to recipient Paul Green with Darrell Gwynn, Paul Lee, and other NHRA dignitaries before Sunday’s first round of the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

“Everyone at McLeod Racing, FTI Performance, and our racing customers and community are one big family. We’re happy that we are able to 'give back' to our racing community by supporting our longtime friend Darrell Gwynn and his association with The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Drag racing is a family-oriented sport, and we love helping our family when we can,” said Lee.

The donation of the custom wheelchair to Paul Green, of Melbourne, Fla., was a powerful moment as he was surrounded by family and friends while the presentation was shown on large screens. Green was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2015 and unfortunately sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. This wheelchair will help improve his quality of life, both physically and mentally, and allow him to advance in his rehabilitation and be more mobile in his day-to-day life.

“We can’t thank our good friend Paul Lee, FTI Performance, and McLeod Racing for celebrating its 50 years by supporting our cause and giving the gift of mobility to someone in need. Our friends from NHRA are such an amazing host for us, and each year they are gracious enough to give us the forum to share our mission of hope and supporting our quality of life and research initiatives,” said Darrell Gwynn, director of the Darrell Gwynn Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund.

In typical years, on Sunday prior to the races, Gwynn leads a “Track Walk for Those Who Can’t” to help raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and raise money to support the Darrell Gwynn Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund initiatives, like today’s wheelchair giveaway. This year, in order to follow safety protocols, a Virtual Track Walk was held with friends and supporters donating $20 to walk in their own time to help support the cause. To walk virtually with Darrell and friends, visit: https://bit.ly/Trackwalk.

Over the years, NHRA drivers Alexis DeJoria, Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Jeg Coughlin, Jr., Larry Dixon, Jack Beckman, Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan, Richie Crampton, Ron Capps, Steve Johnson, Shawn Langdon, Tommy Johnson Jr., JR Todd, Robert Hight, Austin Prock, Shawn Reed, Kelly Clontz, and more have joined Gwynn on the famed track at Gainesville Raceway.

The Darrell Gwynn Quality of Life Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund: The Buoniconti Fund is the fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center located at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The Darrell Gwynn Chapter works to “Stand Up For Those Who Can’t” by raising awareness and funds for critical spinal cord injury research programs through, not only our quality of life initiatives, but by working as a team to ultimately find a cure for paralysis. The Miami Project’s international team includes more than 175 scientists, researchers, clinicians, and support staff who take innovative approaches to the challenges of spinal cord and brain injuries. For more information on the Darrell Gwynn Chapter, visit http://bit.ly/DG-Chapter-BF.