It’s NASCAR race weekend in Richmond, VA and NASCAR driver Joey Gase is racing to save lives, raise awareness, and honor those touched by organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation. Joey Gase’s mother, Mary Jo, died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in April 2011. Just 18 at the time, Joey made the courageous decision to donate her organs. Mary Jo’s organs were able to provide new life to a number of individuals in desperate need of a transplant. The experience sparked a fire in Joey to spread the word far and wide about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Joey’s car regularly honors donors and donor families from the state where Joey is racing, making Joey’s car one of the most unique cars in all of NASCAR.This weekend at the Richmond International Raceway, Joey has invited a donor family and transplant recipient to join him in the inner track on Friday afternoon and for the Xfinity Series Race Friday night.
“ Joey will honor Victoria Williams and her family on his car #52 this weekend
“ Victoria Williams, a 7-year-old girl, was killed in a car accident June 6, 2012; her mother, Dejon, and 5-year-old sister, Faith were also killed in the same accident
“ Victoria was declared brain dead and her grandparents, Winsome and Terry Sears, made the decision for her to be a donor shortly after being told that both their daughter and granddaughter were also dead
“ Winsome and Terry Sears, grandparents, are retired military and Winsome was a former Virginia State Legislator
“ Katia & Janel, Victoria’s aunts, and Winsome & Terry, have met Victoria’s liver recipient, Gina Guevara, who is an active Donate Life Ambassador
“ Gina will be joining the donor family at the race track this Friday
“ Earlier this year Joey held a Donate Life design contest for his car; a quote from the design contest winner, Rachael Whiteford, about the design of Joey’s car that will be seen on Friday:
Utilizing the colors of “Donate Life’ I created a piece of artwork I call “Jigsaw’ to me, it represents individuality and unity in one”¦ That we, are all individuals, but at the same time, we are all part of a greater being, and in the tragic cases of organ failure, we are all important to each other. Every person can be a piece”¦ and every piece can save a life. Together we are stronger.
To sign up as an organ, eye, and tissue donor or for more information about how to get involved, visit www.donatelifevirginia.org or call 1-866-VADonor.(Joey Gase Racing PR), see an image of the car on the #52 team paint schemes page.(9-10-2015)
