Michelle at 16 when she bought her first Mustang, and the cars that followed.

Cars can make a connection with almost everyone. That connection can be especially powerful when the car is something special, like a Mustang. New York resident, Michelle Figura, has had a connection and love of Mustangs since she was just 16 years old. Her first pony car was a barn find 1969 Fastback, and she’s had multiple iterations of the Mustang since then, owning several generations of Ford’s iconic pony car.

Years ago, Michelle’s sister Renee was terminally ill. Renee kept remarking to Michelle that she wished her sister still owned that hot Fox body convertible she’d let go of a few years ago. Renee wanted to escape from hospice for a little while, and have her sister take her for a ride with the wind in her hair. Michelle was presently between Mustangs, but wanted to find a way to cheer her sister up. “I went out and rented a Mustang for the day. We didn’t go anywhere,  we drove everywhere.” The idea was born for Michelle to share her love of cars with those who are ill.

Michelle herself was injured a few years ago in a motor vehicle accident, and wound up with a broken back, face, and neck. She’s been a farmer and truck driver, hauling heavy loads prior to the accident. “I thought my days of driving a Mustang were over after the accident,” she told us.

Michelle sat in, and tried to get comfortable, in a multitude of years and model Mustangs, but the chronic pain from her injuries wouldn’t allow it. Ingress and egress were too difficult, and Michelle’s hope of at least one last Mustang in her lifetime were dim. Then it happened, Michelle found a 2006 Mustang GT for sale. “I opened the door, slid in, fired it up, went through the gears like I’d had it for years. The man couldn’t believe how I got in and went through the gears like I did. He lowered the price, we shook hands, done deal. I had to look up and say ‘Thanks God, I know that was you,’” says Michelle.

Today, whenever she can, Michelle gets out in the Mustang to transport heart, cancer, and other patients to medical appointments. The rumble of the exhaust, the cool breeze from the windows down, and the feeling of Michelle rowing gears in the driver’s seat puts a smile on everyone’s face who go for a ride in her silver GT. “No matter how ill people have been, not one person has gotten sick during the rides I give. Isn’t that awesome! They get into the ride and enjoy! I wish I could describe how good it makes me feel to be able to give them that “AWE” feeling. Some people fall asleep with a smile,  some stay awake. Always, always smiling. I’m truly blessed. I can’t do much of anything anymore,  but the little things that I can do are amazing,” says Michelle.

It’s not just the Mustang either, Michelle’s husband also has a 1948 Anglia drag car. The car runs in the five-second zone in the eighth-mile, so it’s no slouch. Michelle and her husband have recently arranged for a cancer patient to take a ride down the track in the Anglia. While Mr Figura won’t be tripping the top end beams in the five second zone, just a quick blast of acceleration at part throttle will likely be more than enough to put a smile on this patient’s face.

In a world full of bad news, and daily downers, we’re glad there’s someone like Michelle Figura out there using her Mustang to put a smile on the faces of so many. She takes some of her own time, to make others feel better, but Michelle says it’s not that way at all, “I drive who I can as much as I can.  Sometimes, I go pick up someone who is sick and take them for a ride. It’s good for the soul. Windows down, wind in your face, rumble in your body from the engine.  Who wouldn’t feel better? So you see, I don’t do much. I feel better. Others feel better. It’s a win win situation.” Thanks for brightening the days of so many Michelle, and being a great ambassador for the car we all love, the Mustang.