The Disabled Patriot Fund, NASCAR and TMS team up to surprise a Texas disabled vet

Photo: LJ Cloud for Skirts and Scuffs

Kenny Kalish says he's a happy person. The 22-year-old Tomball, Texas, resident spent the weekend enjoying the VIP treatment at Texas Motor Speedway. An avid NASCAR fan, Kalish was excited about his behind-the-scenes tour, just like every other fan at the Great American Speedway would be if they had the same chance.

But Kenny gets around a little differently from the rest of us.. He's got leg prostheses and he's got 4 arms, two of which are electric, courtesy of an IED explosion on April 7, 2011, in Afghanistan.

"We were clearing a bazaar, and had just found and exploded an IED," Kalish said. "At first I didn't know I was hurt. I just thought something exploded. Then my Corpsman told me I would be okay." Kalish says he looked down at his injuries, had a "freak-out minute", then helped apply the tourniquet to his arm. He credits his fellow corpsmen for saving his life, describing how one, his best friend, stayed next to him and held his hand until the helicopter came.

He's got an amazingly upbeat attitude, focusing on the positives. He joked that "at least he doesn't have to worry about getting arthritis in his knees."

On a weekend where the storyline is black hats vs. white hats, Marine Corporal Kenny Kalish is a reminder that, to paraphrase Brad Keselowski, the drivers are not heroes, they're just guys who drive cars. Kenny, however, is a true hero who lost both legs and an arm in service of his country.

This weekend, NASCAR teamed up with Texas Motor Speedway and the Disabled Patriot Fund to present Corporal Kalish with a handicapped-accessible vehicle so that he can regain a part of the freedom he gave up defending the freedoms of his fellow countryment.

The Disabled Patriot Fund is a 501c3 organization founded in 2004 in Orland Park, Illinois. They've disbursed over 1.5 million to assist wounded service members and this weekend, with the help of TMS and NASCAR, made Corporal Kenny Kalish a happy man.

To donate to the Disabled Patriot Fund, visit www.disabledpatriotfund.com or call 708-949-6050.