‘If anybody needs this, she does:’ Breast cancer survivor wins car in Christmas giveaway

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP/Gray News) - Christmas came early for a woman in Virginia who won a car in a giveaway that her coworkers signed her up for.

Trinka Purdue won a 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander on Friday thanks to a giveaway done by the McClinton Auto Group in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

“I’m super blessed, oh my gosh. This couldn’t have come at a better time for our family,” Purdue said.

Several of Purdue’s coworkers had submitted her name to the giveaway. Purdue herself didn’t even know the giveaway was happening.

Michelle Leasure, one of the coworkers who submitted Purdue’s name, said Purdue is truly deserving of the gift. She said Purdue is a breast cancer survivor and one of the nicest, most compassionate people she’s met.

“Trinka has been through a lot the past couple of years, and she is now a breast cancer survivor,” Leasure said. “And two days before I saw the commercial, her car had blown up, and she had asked me to come pick her up. Then I saw the commercial, and I thought, if anybody needs this, she does.”

For McClinton Auto Group, it was a Christmas well spent, as well.

Ginny Bowden, a co-owner of the dealership, was the one who delivered the news to Leasure that Purdue had won.

“Called her on Friday to let her know that Trinka was the winner. I cried on the phone then with her,” Ginny Bowden said. “I mean, it was just so exciting, she was so excited, so this couldn’t be any better. I mean, this is what I hoped for, and then some.”

CEO Wyn Bowden said the giveaway was their way of showing appreciation for the community.

“You know, this community is what supports the dealership, and our company. So, we thought, we need to give back and show support for somebody in the community,” Wyn Bowden said.

Wyn Bowden and Ginny Bowden said they hope to do a giveaway again in the future.

“There are so many people who are deserving, and give back to the community, and give so much. If I could, I would give more away. I do feel really good about today’s winner, and yeah, I would like to continue to do something like this,” Ginny Bowden said.

Purdue said that after all this, she might be taking her family on a road trip this Christmas.