KANSAS CITY, MO (February 13, 2016) – On Friday February 12th at the Rockhurst University School of Engineering, the Kansas City Region of the Sports Car Club of America (KCRSCCA) presented a check for $5,200 to Variety KC GoBabyGo! Powered by Rockhurst University. The presentation coincided with Variety KC GoBabyGo! build day at the Rockhurst University St. Ignatius Science Center. The local car enthusiasts’ club hosted a charity Solo (aka autocross) competition last October at the end of their 2015 Solo Championship season and raised money through proceeds from entry fees for the event, participant donations, and a silent auction held at the event.
"The Kansas City Region of the SCCA organizes a charity event every year at the end of their Solo season," said Al Hermans, KCRSCCA Solo Advisory Committee Chair. "Through a combination of normal event proceeds, a special break in sanctioning fees from SCCA, donations, and silent auctions and raffles we are able to raise funds for local charities. This year we had a near record turnout for a regional event which has allowed us to present the largest check in recent memory to this worthy group. Thank you to everyone who made this event the success that it was."
Variety KC GoBabyGo Powered by Rockhurst University, led by physical therapy and engineering students at Rockhurst University, adapt ride-on toys to provide mobility and sociability for children with special needs.
Members of the Kansas City Region SCCA and Dare2Dream Motorsports present a $5,200 check to Variety KC GoBabyGo! at the February 12th build-day at Rockhurst University.
"Since GoBabyGo! launched last year, the support from the community has been incredible," said Kendra Gagnon, PT, Ph.D., associate professor of physical therapy at Rockhurst University. "Each car costs approximately $200, and the project runs solely on donations. Kansas City Region SCCA's donation will go a long way in helping us fulfill our mission of giving kids the opportunity to experience their world independently."
The Kansas City Region SCCA became involved with GoBabyGo through one of the teams that regularly compete in their Solo, Road Rally, and RallyCross competitions, Dare2Dream Motorsports. Team Owner, Jeremy Salenius, and Solo driver, Jessica Dorn, reached out to GoBabyGo as a potential charity partner for the 2015 season which lead to the Kansas City Region SCCA naming GoBabyGo as their official charity for their Solo season finale.
"The Dare2Dream Team was excited to get involved with the GoBabyGo program since it was close to our hearts," said Dare2Dream Motorsports Solo racer and website editor Jessica Dorn. "Not only are we passionate about racing and cars, but we fully understand the freedom associated with the added mobility a set of wheels can provide. The inspiration for our team came from an accident where [team founder] Jeremy's brother was injured and lost the use of his legs. Throughout his rehab, he kept saying he could 'dare to dream about walking again.' When we reached out to Professor Gagnon, we were hoping to raise enough money to build 10 cars. We were blown away by the response of our fellow racers and that we raised enough money to build at least 25 cars for local kids."
The Kansas City Region SCCA and Dare2Dream Motorsports will continue raise money for Variety KC GoBabyGo! throughout the 2016 Solo and RallyCross seasons. The first Solo Event of the 2016 season is on April 10th, at the Metropolitan Community College Performance Driving Center in Independence, MO.
ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY REGION SCCA
The Kansas City Region of the SCCA has been around since August 29, 1952, making us one of the oldest Regions in the Midwest. With around 500 members, we have a diverse group of people united in their love of cars and racing. Please visit www.kcrscca.org for more information about our racing schedules in SCCA Solo, RallyCross, Road Rally, and Road Racing and our Solo driving schools and the SCCA Street Survival car control school for teen drivers.
ABOUT DARE2DREAM MOTORSPORTS
Dare2Dream Motorsports is a collective of like-minded racers dedicated to helping people who face the challenge of life-changing injuries through our love of motorsport. For more information about Dare2Dream Motorsports, please visit www.dare2dreammotorsports.net.
ABOUT VARIETY THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY
Through Variety KC's GoBabyGo! program, Rockhurst University physical therapy, occupational therapy, and engineering students modify toy ride-on cars to provide low-tech power mobility for children with special needs. The Variety KC GoBabyGo! program launched last year at Rockhurst University. Since the program began, the group has partnered with local organizations to modify dozens of toy cars for children with special needs. Each car costs approximately $200, and the project runs solely on donations. If you would like to donate to Variety KC GoBabyGo!, visit varietykc.org
Media Contacts:
Kansas City Region SCCA
- Solo Advisory Committee Chair, Al Hermans, alhermans@sdc-corp.com
- Regional Executive, Brad Smith, brad.smith.kcrscca@gmail.com
Variety KC GoBabyGo! Powered by Rockhurst University
- Deborah Wiebrecht, Executive Director Variety KC, varietykc@gmail.com
- Kendra Gagnon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Education Rockhurst University, gobabygokc@rockhurst.edu
Dare2Dream Motorsports
- Team Owner, Jeremy Salenius, jeremy@dare2dreammotorsports.net
- Team Manager, Jessica Dorn, jessica@dare2dreammotorsports.net
