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Ambrose special helmet auctioned for charity |
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Friday, 30 May 2008 |
Australian NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose is auctioning a special piece of
motorsport history over the next two weeks.
Last weekend Ambrose raced
his Kingsford Ford Fusion in a special car design and in a one-off helmet
created by 8-year-old Gaige Bolser from Stanfield, North Carolina.
Gaige has a rare non-Hidgkin’s Lymphoma called Burkitt Lymphoma and was
diagnosed in August last year.
He was recently receiving treatment at
the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina when he had the
chance to participate in a competition to design Ambrose’s car and helmet for
last Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Carquest 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Not only was Gaige’s design selected, he had his face emblazoned on the
side of the car and was a special guest of the Kingsford team prior to the race.
Bolser participated with Ambrose in pre-race driver introductions and
did a lap around the track with his new favorite driver to wave to the fans.
As part of the promotion, Kingsford and Rite Aid Pharmacy donated
$US15,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network. The Children's Miracle Network is a
non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children
by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the
170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care,
life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids
overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.
Levine Children’s Hospital
is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and is a member of the CMN.
Ambrose is hoping to take that figure way over the $US20,000 mark by
auctioning the helmet on his website MarcosAmbrose.com
An Australian fan on Ambrose’s
second sell out NASCAR tour to Charlotte last week has already opened the
bidding at $US5,000 after hearing of the auction plans.
“The whole
experience with Gaige Bolser and the Levine Children’s Hospital was amazing,”
said Ambrose.
“When you see the fighting spirit of these tough little
guys, it makes any troubles you have seem insignificant.
“Hopefully we
can have fans fighting over this helmet because the money is going to a
fantastic cause.”
The helmet incorporates Gaige’s handprint, Kingsford
flames and a green ribbon for lymphoma awareness.
The Auction will end
on Monday June 9 at Midnight US Eastern time (2:00pm on Tuesday June 10
Australian Eastern Stardard Time).
For further information or to make
additional contributions to Levine Children’s hospital go to LevineChildrensHospital.org or mail your donation to Carolinas
HealthCare Foundation, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232.
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Marcos Ambrose ran a special livery
and helmet design at Lowe's Motor Speedway in support of the Levine Children's
Hospital
Levine Children's Hospital patient
Gaige Bolser from Stanfield, North Carolina designed the winning helmet design
and car livery
Levine Children's Hospital patient
Gaige Bolser from Stanfield, North Carolina designed the winning helmet design
and car livery
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