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Friends Mobilize To Help Ill Teen Keep On Truckin'

Julie Busch / Tribune

Toby Kottke, 18, admires his restored 1980 Ford F-250 pickup Sunday after being surprised with the “The Dukes of Hazzard”-inspired truck by family and friends.

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

TAMPA - Guys don't forget their first vehicles.

It was a needy 1980 Ford F-250 pickup that caught Toby Kottke's eye.

The 18-year-old knew what he wanted to do.

"Get rid of the rust," he said was the first thing. Then, "paint it red."

But within weeks of buying the truck and getting his driver's license, Kottke's legs were paralyzed.

Turning wrenches would have to wait while he underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments for spine and brain cancer.

His family, friends and benefactors would not let the restoration dream stall, though. They surprised him with the finished truck Sunday.

"Toby is the sweetest and most kind person I ever met," said Lynnette Crawford, Kottke's sister-in-law and the driving wheel behind the project. "I just knew I wanted to do something special for him."

Crawford listened while Kottke talked about how he wanted to trick-out his truck. Then she set about to make it happen.

"She got the ball rolling and kept it going," said John, her husband and one of Kottke's older stepbrothers.

Crawford said she flooded people with telephone calls and faxes, asking them if they could do anything to help.

The Marty Lyons Foundation, started by the former Pinellas County football star to grant the wishes of terminally ill youngsters and those with life-threatening illnesses, gave a grant. Foundation officials said it was the first time anyone had asked for money to rebuild a truck.

When the foundation's money proved not to be enough to accomplish Kottke's vision, Crawford renewed her efforts.

Robert Murphree, owner of Sunbrite Auto Works off North Dale Mabry Highway, was impressed by the appeal.

"I had a meeting with everyone in the shop, and they unanimously voted to get involved," he said. "It is such a feel-good project."

Inside every little car restoration problem, though, is a larger one waiting to get out.

Murphree and his staff discovered there was more rust than initially thought. Technician Alan Zerbe found a similar truck at an auction to serve as a parts donor. Another worker bought a new grill.

"It was just the right thing to do," Zerbe said.

Between the foundation, Sunbrite and other donors, Murphree figures about $12,000 to $14,000 went into the restoration.

People said it was hard to say no, especially if they knew Kottke.

"He was the greatest kid I ever taught," said John Fiengo, who was one of Kottke's teachers at the Bowers-Whitley Career Center. "I had him for five classes, and he aced all of them. He was a teacher's dream."

None of those who spent three months restoring the truck had met him before Sunday, though, nor had many who pledged money toward the project.

Friends and family said the truck was as important as any therapy.

"There are two things that keep him going," said Larry Crawford, a stepbrother from Atlanta. "He has a beagle puppy named Rebel and that dirty old truck he wanted to fix up."

Normally, the family gathers in Georgia this time of year to celebrate everyone's birthdays. Sunday's was Kottke's sister Lynn's 34th. But because Kottke has been hospitalized at St. Joseph's Hospital since February, the clan decided to gather in Tampa this year.

Kottke thought his day pass from the hospital was for the get-together.

There were few dry eyes watching his reaction when he saw his truck, all decked out like the "General Lee" from Kottke's favorite TV program, "The Dukes of Hazzard."

The truck has the signature neon reddish-orange paint, the Confederate flag on the hood, "01" painted on the doors. It even had a horn that beeped out "Dixie."

"This is the happiest I've seen him since he was diagnosed," said Larry Kottke, his father. "He sort of gave up on things. I don't know how he found the courage to keep on fighting."

Doctors gave Kottke four to six months to live in July. He and his family still hold out hope he will be driving his truck soon.

But Kottke said the truck was secondary to other gifts he received Sunday.

"There are a lot of good people in this world who show their love every day," he said. "Don't let it pass you by."

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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