ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 11, 2016)– Children’s Tumor Foundation and WC Vision are proud to announce that the Children’s Tumor Foundation has been named as the Official Children’s Charity of the Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series.
Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), through their Racing4Research program, has been a long-time fixture of the motorsport scene. Campaigning to raise both awareness and fund research into neurofibromatosis (NF), a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, Racing4Research has raised nearly $4 million for NF research since its inception.
Since 2011, CTF and their instantly recognizable blue T-shirts, have been a consistent presence in the Pirelli World Challenge paddock. Each race weekend, the Foundation brings local area “NF Heroes” – children and families living with NF – out to the race track for a unique, behind-the-scenes experience. To date, the Foundation has been represented in the World Challenge paddock by individual teams and drivers including stalwart CTF supporters C360R (Compass360 Racing) and GMG Racing. Now with the designation of “Official Children’s Charity” all of the competitors in the series will have the option to carry the Foundation’s logo.
“We are honored to designate the Children’s Tumor Foundation as our Series official Children’s Charity,” stated WC Vision President Greg Gill. “Over the years the Pirelli World Challenge competitors having given selflessly to a variety of charities. We want them to continue their individual efforts and relationships while a
t the same time recognizing the effort Jill Beck and the CTF group have made for the children and their families facing NF.”
Racing4Research Program Director Jill Beck was equally enthusiastic. “We are so excited to extend our relationship with the Pirelli World Challenge and I can’t wait to bring more NF Heroes to meet all of the great people in the paddock. You cannot imagine how much it means to these kids and their families to be welcomed by the teams and to see the CTF logo on the spectacular cars that make up the PWC paddock. It really is something special.” She continued, “I am incredibly grateful to Greg Gill and everyone at PWC for their unwavering support of Racing4Research and for allowing us this opportunity to expand the Foundation’s presence in the paddock. They say it will take a team to End NF and this is a pretty impressive team to have on our side.”
Starting with St. Petersburg, all cars in the series, from GT through TCB, will have the opportunity to display the CTF logo on their cars. The Foundation is expecting a large turn-out of supporters for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which begins March 11th. The CTF tour starts at 3:00 on Saturday, and will include a trip through the paddock for meet and greets with the team and drivers in advance of the GTS race at 5:10 pm.
All races over the weekend will be streamed live at world-challenge.com and will broadcast tape-delayed on CBS Sports Network.
