The Gill Family of Parkville, Missouri wrote a winning essay for the Helmet of Hope contest sponsored by The Jimmie Johnson Foundation to showcase the charity most important to the applicant family. FARA was one of a total of twelve charities selected from the fan submissions and the FARA logo will be displayed on Jimmie's (NASCAR) helmet during the Pepsi 500 on August 31, 2008 at the Auto Club Speedway. Susan Gill, mother of Rachel (FA), enlisted the support of her family to submit essays on why the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) was important to them, and the essay of Rachel’s uncle Neil Hanneman (a former stock car racer) was selected as one of the winning entries. Hanneman writes, “Seeing the FARA logo on Jimmie's helmet would give some visibility to finding a cure for a life- shortening disease that affects children while giving hope and enjoyment to those kids that are afflicted by FA." Watch for the FARA logo on Jimmie’s helmet as the #48 car speeds around the track.
Additional information on FARA and the Helmet of Hope can be found on www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org
Fans may bid on the one-of-a kind, race-worn helmet at www.ebay.com/jimmiejohnsonfoundation. The auction runs through Tues., Aug. 26 at 11:40 p.m. ET with proceeds benefiting San Diego Habitat for Humanity.
A Special Ticket Package is Available Through The Johnson Foundation. To Get Info / Purchase Tickets Click: Auto Club Speedway and select Jimmie Johnson Foundation Package, then click More Info.
