Austin Hatcher Foundation to Bring Pediatric Cancer Families and Fundraisers to Road Atlanta
- Fundraising Auctions Friday and Saturday at IMSA Season Ending Road Racing Circuit
- Families Facing Pediatric Cancer to Join in SportsCar Weekend Events
- Week Begins with Visit to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital
- Foundation Remembers and Thanks Road Atlanta for Support Since Their Beginning
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (September 26, 2022) – This weekend, the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer will have its annual premium showcase experience as an official “Proud Charity” for the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), during the world-renowned Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
Saturday’s Motul Petit Le Mans, one of the top sports car races in North America, is a 10-hour endurance race that wraps up the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. On Friday and Saturday, the Austin Hatcher Foundation will benefit from fundraising auctions at various fan enthusiast areas in addition to their all-day silent auction tent, all with action-packed sports car racing as the exciting backdrop.
The foundation will provide its innovative Diversionary Therapy visit on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital. Diversionary Therapy visits by foundation staff members offer interactive, specialized activities for young patients and their family members. This week’s visit is one of many the foundation has made this year to children’s medical facilities across the country, typically in markets where IMSA events are held.
As an extension of Diversionary Therapy, the foundation will also host more than 100 pediatric cancer patients, survivors and their family members at the track Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families will be able to enjoy the excitement of the race, take photos with race cars and drivers, eat a catered lunch and take part in specialized activities organized by the foundation all at no cost to them.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s partnership with IMSA results in a multitude of relationships and opportunities at race tracks that raise both funds and awareness for the foundation’s long-standing mission to erase the effects of pediatric cancer. The Austin Hatcher Foundation provides all services to childhood cancer patients and their families at no cost, with funds solely from the donations of supporters and sponsors. Since its inception in 2006, the foundation has provided services such as Mental and Behavioral Health Therapy, Occupational Therapy, NeuroPsych Testing, Family Programs and more at absolutely no cost to more than 84,000 individuals across 23 states, and in 42 children’s hospitals.
“Being involved at the Motul Petit Le Mans is really a cherished tradition for our organization,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation CEO and co-founder Amy Jo Osborn. “Not only is this weekend a highlight of IMSA’s season, but it’s also an annual highlight for the Austin Hatcher Foundation. We have been able to grow in our involvement at and off the track thanks to the help of so many dear friends in the sports car and automotive industries. We are so excited for this weekend where we have some of our most loyal partners involved – Cadillac, Corvette, Porsche, and painter extraordinaire Bill Patterson.”
Longtime supporter of the foundation and acclaimed motion sports artist Bill Patterson will appear this weekend, preparing paintings for auction at the Corvette Corral, Porscheplatz, Michelin Tower and Cadillac Corral fan enthusiast areas. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to supporting pediatric cancer families through the Austin Hatcher Foundation.
The foundation will also be raising funds and awareness through their special silent auction tent, which will be set up in Vendor Row all day Friday and Saturday. Bidding may be done on-site or remotely at https://one.bidpal.net/ra22/.
This weekend’s auction schedule:
- Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Silent Auction Tent, Vendor Row
- Friday, 11 a.m., Corvette Corral – Bill Patterson painting begins
- Friday, 12:45 a.m., Corvette Corral – Live auction of painting
- Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Silent Auction Tent, Vendor Row
- Saturday, 10 a.m., Porscheplatz – Bill Patterson painting begins
- Saturday, 11:20 a.m., Porscheplatz – Live auction of painting
- Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Michelin Tower, – Bill Patterson painting begins
- Saturday, 6 p.m., Podium Club at Michelin Tower – Live auction of painting
- Saturday, 6:00 p.m., Cadillac Corral – Bill Patterson painting begins
- Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Cadillac Corral – Live auction of painting
The Motul Petit Le Mans is rooted in the foundation’s history. The Austin Hatcher Foundation has been involved with Petit Le Mans and road-racing ever since the nonprofit’s beginning in 2006, but has had ties to the famous race even before then. Dr. Jim Osborn, AHF co-founder and father of foundation namesake Austin Hatcher Osborn, was a race car driver in the SPEED World Challenge Series himself.
“Our relationship with the Motul Petit Le Mans began back in 2002, before the foundation was even formed, when we began raising money for children with cancer and hosting Diversionary Therapy visits at Road Atlanta,” said Dr. Osborn. “Fast forward to 2006 and Hatch was there with us as a 6-week-year old baby and our race team was unveiling a new bio-diesel race car. It was after that weekend that Hatch was diagnosed and passed away. Subsequently, our relationship with IMSA and Road Atlanta became more formalized.”
The Austin Hatcher Foundation was founded in 2006 after Dr. Jim and Amy Jo Osborn lost their first-born son, Austin Hatcher, to a rare form of pediatric cancer. The Osborns have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the battle against childhood cancer, and now lead the Foundation in its 15th year of providing comprehensive coordinated care for entire families going through the difficult journey of pediatric cancer.
“Road Atlanta has been an amazing support through it all, and we we are excited to be back,” said Dr. Osborn. “Just like it was in 2006, Road Atlanta is taking place on the September 30th weekend, which is a special –both happy and sad– weekend for us. We are so appreciative of what IMSA, Road Atlanta and their fans, teams and partners have done for our organization and the families we serve.”
To learn more about the Austin Hatcher Foundation, visit www.HatcherFoundation.org today.
For tickets or more information on Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this weekend, visit https://roadatlanta.com/motul-petit-le-mans.
