After raising $540,000 for Seattle Children's Hospital in 2010 this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona begins what Team Seattle hope will be another record breaking year of fund raising and racing.
Daytona is a very important race for the team. The team – and philanthropic aim – was originally set up for the 1997 race and the money raised at the event makes up a large amount of the annual total. For 2011 the team is running the 'Buy a Heart, Save a Life' campaign, with a minimum donation $50 buying fans a 1.25 square inch heart character that will adorn the car for the race.
Over 300 hearts have already been sold – enough to cover the roof and bonnet of the team's GT class Mazda RX-8 – and with fans able to buy hearts at the race track the team are hoping the final number will be more than 500.
The car itself – the no.41 entry, officially under the Dempsey Racing banner, but run in partnership with JG Sport and Team Seattle, will be driven by Dane Cameron, Ian James, James Gue, Dave Lacey and Don Kitch Jr. – a Team Seattle regular.
To find out more about the team – and their fundraising efforts (including how to donate) – go to www.teamseattle.com.
