Rolex 24 At DAYTONA: It’s the Season-Opener for Sports Cars – and the Austin Hatcher Foundation
- Foundation Begins Another Year As ‘Proud Charity’ of International Motor Sports Association
- Four Fundraising Auctions Set for Weekend at Daytona International Speedway
- Week in Daytona Beach Begins With Visit to Speediatrics Children’s Unit at Halifax Health
- Foundation to Present Annual Humanitarian Award on Thursday
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 20, 2020) – This weekend’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA opens the season not only for Daytona International Speedway and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) but also for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation is continuing its longtime role as an official “Proud Charity” of IMSA and there is no better setting to showcase that relationship than the Rolex 24, North America’s premier sports car event.
“Instant momentum; that’s what this week means to us,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn. “We are so fortunate to be part of such a huge event of international significance. Our Rolex 24 activities really help set the tone for all we want to accomplish this year on behalf of young cancer patients and their families.”
As in past years, the foundation will have a strong presence at the “World Center of Racing” with four fundraising auctions with spectacular sports car racing as the backdrop, as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicks off 2020. The 24-hour event starts at 1:40 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday activities:
- At the Porscheplatz fan area, noted artist Bill Patterson will produce a “live painting” starting at 9 a.m. The work will be auctioned at 11:50 a.m.
- Another well-known artist, Roger Warrick, will paint a stunning BMW at his vendor tent on Friday and Saturday, with that work being auctioned at the BMW Corral at 3:30 p.m.
- Patterson will move over to the Audi Corral at 4 p.m. to begin another painting, which will be auctioned at 6.
On Sunday:
- Patterson will be in the Cadillac Suite overlooking the famous 3.56-mile road course, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The auction will be at 12:30 p.m.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s week in Daytona Beach, Florida starts with a visit to the Speediatrics Children’s Care Unit at Halifax Health Medical Center. Foundation representatives will be joined by IMSA drivers Christina Nielsen and Rahel Frey. The visit is from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, January 22.
The foundation’s signature Diversionary Therapy visits are held throughout the year, often in markets that host IMSA races. That synergy enables IMSA drivers to regularly attend those visits and interact with patients and their family members.
Diversionary Therapy entails specialized activities for children and families, supplying a much-needed respite from a fight against pediatric cancer. One of those activities is the building and racing of miniature Pinewood Derby cars, with IMSA drivers competing with young patients.
In addition, on Thursday at 2:45 p.m. in the speedway’s infield center, Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn will present the foundation’s annual Humanitarian Award.
