No. 4 eBay Motors/Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research Porsche GT3 Perseveres to the Finish In the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona
Largest campaign launch to date with more than $600,000 donated to Children’s Tumor Foundation during landmark race
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 29, 2012) – The No. 4 eBay Motors/Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research Porsche GT3 team had two goals this weekend: one was to complete the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona, and the other was to raise funding for research and awareness for neurofibromatosis (NF) through the Racing4Research program. Team drivers Ryan Eversley, Justin Bell, Daniel Graeff and Ron Yarab contributed to both efforts during the endurance classic, with Bell driving the car at the end of the race and more than $600,000 raised through Racing4Research and the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF).
The team moved off to a quick start with Eversley climbing through the field in the opening hours of the race and Bell running as high as sixth before an unwanted love tap created some issues.
“I had a great time in the car, except when I got tapped, sat there for three laps and was mildly aggravated, but the car felt really good,” Bell said. “We were in sixth place when we got spun. We knew we weren’t going to be the fastest, but it would have been kind of cool to be in the top 10 and we had the pace to achieve that.”
Donations were also on pace this weekend for the Children’s Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research program that increases awareness for NF and raises funds for research to find a cure for the debilitating disease. The program’s fifth-year campaign began at the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona and has the double support of leading online companies eBay Motors and Quicken Loans Inc. The Rolex 24 Racing4Research program is the annual kickoff event for CTF fundraising. Donations can still be made at www.racing4research.org.
The No. 4 eBay Motors/Racing4Research campaign will also be featured later this year in a second season episode of The World’s Fastest Car Show Hosted by Justin Bell, a unique web, mobile and app-accessible show available only at eBay Motors and on eBay Mobile.
“We had a great start to the CTF fundraising campaign, well over $600,000 was raised during the race,” said Jill Beck, Director of the Racing4Research program for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
“We don’t even know the totals because we have the on-going eBay auctions. Plus donations are still coming in and I’m sure they’ll keep coming in past the race. We’re thrilled. We’ve been so proud to work with eBay Motors and Quicken Loans, they’ve been fantastic partners.”
Graeff was honored to be part of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona and to represent CTF for the annual fundraising launch.
“This weekend is very hard to put into words, it is very bittersweet,” Graeff said. “For 24 hours every year for what is now the last five years, we’ve been a moment of joy and hope for CTF children and their families. We’ve raised more money here than we have in years before because of the exposure through terrific sponsors like eBay Motors and Quicken Loans.”
After taking the checkered flag with the rest of the competitors, the No. 4 team celebrated their successes in completing the Golden Anniversary event and also launching the 2012 Racing4Research campaign to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
“Having Justin Bell on board and SPEED cooperating with us and showing us love on air and through our webcast was great,” Beck said. “I really couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished this year. I’m just happy that we were able to finish the race, and take the checkered flag for the kids.”
About the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Racing4Research
Developed by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the Racing4Research (R4R) program utilizes competitive, professional auto racing as a vehicle to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis and raise funds for research through corporate sponsorship, personal donations, and individual fundraising by NF Heroes: children and adults from around the country who live with neurofibromatosis. NF affects one in every 3,000 children, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined, and can lead to a wide variety of complications, including blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain. The Racing4Research program offers children and families living with the disorder a uniquely empowering weekend, and has raised over $1.5 million dollars since its inception five years ago. Donations can be made at www.racing4research.org.
